COLLEGE STATION, Texas—Josh Carter scored a game-high 15
points to lead No. 15 Texas A&M to a 67-54 win over Oral
Roberts University in the opening round of the NIT Season Tip-Off,
Tuesday at Reed Arena.
Joseph Jones added 13 and DeAndre Jordan chipped in 12 as the
Aggies (2-0) dealt ORU (1-1) its first loss of the season. ORU
faces Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in a consolation game on
Wednesday, while Texas A&M advances to face UTEP.
After a sluggish start by both teams, ORU owned the lead for better
than three minutes midway through the half. Adam
Liberty (Oklahoma City, Okla.) sank a short jumper for a 10-6
lead with 13:27 left, and Liberty converted a pair of free throws
for a 12-8 lead with 12:44 before halftime.
But ORU went cold after the Liberty free throws, going scoreless
for the next 4:14 while A&M raced out to a 22-12 lead. Liberty
broke the scoring drought with another mid-range jumper at 8:30,
but the Aggies again went on a huge run, out-scoring the Golden
Eagles 15-5 over the final eight minutes for a 37-17 halftime
lead.
Despite trailing by 20, the Golden Eagles made a game of it early
in the second half. ORU out-scored the Aggies 14-3 to start the
half, with a
Robert Jarvis (Hunble, Texas) 3-pointer putting
ORU within 40-31 with 15:04 remaining.
The Aggies quickly pushed the lead back to double figures. A
three-point play by Carter gave A&M a 51-36 lead with 9:40
left, and the lead swelled to 19 points when Carter drained a
3-pointer to make it 58-39 with 7:46 to go.
A&M eventually pushed the lead to 21 points when a pair of
Derrick Roland free throws gave the Aggies a 65-44 advantaged with
4:10 remaining. ORU never got closer than the final margin.
Liberty led ORU with 13 points, going 5-of-7 from the field with
one three-pointer. Jarvis added 12 points and three assists, but
was just 4-of-19 from the field. Shawn
King (Bequia, St. Vincent) chipped in 10 points and five
rebounds.
The Golden Eagles shot 36.4 percent (20-55) for the game, including
6-of-20 from 3-point range. Texas A&M shot 45.1 percent (23-51)
from the field, including 5-of-12 from three-point range.
The Aggies owned a 42-27 rebounding advantage. ORU forced 16
turnovers while committing just 13.
ORU and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi tip-off Wednesday at 5
p.m.
--ORU--
