ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—Daniel Faris scored 15 points in the second half, including the game-winning jumper with 43 seconds remaining, to help New Mexico rally for a 66-63 win over Oral Roberts University Wednesday at The Pit.

The Lobos (7-4) overcame a 12-point halftime deficit and 2-of-15 three-point shooting. ORU (2-8) lost its third straight game despite holding the Lobos to 41 percent shooting.

With ORU leading 37-25 at the start of the second half New Mexico opened the final frame with a 16-2 run, taking their first lead of the game when Faris hit a short jumper for a 41-39 advantage with 15:19 left.

ORU quickly regained the lead when a Robert Jarvis (Humble, Texas) 3-pointer made it 42-41. After the teams traded baskets, ORU pushed out to a 47-43 lead on a pair of free throws by Kevin Ford (Portland, Ore.) with 11:18 to play.

The Golden Eagles maintained the lead until five straight points by Tony Dandridge gave the Lobos a 57-56 advantage with 5:48 left.

ORU regained the lead one last time when Marcus Lewis (Long Beach, Calif.) capped a 5-1 flurry with a layup to make it 61-60 with 2:27 remaining.

But New Mexico wouldn't be denied. Faris gave the Lobos back the lead when he took an offensive rebound away from Ford and laid it in for a 62-61 advantage. After Dominique Morrison (Kansas City, Mo.) missed a trey for ORU, Faris bowled over Lewis for the game-winning bucket.

The Golden Eagles had one last chance. After a quick basket by Jarvis and a pair of free throws by Dairese Gary made it 66-63, New Mexico's Jonathan Willis missed a pair of free throws with seven seconds to go. Jarvis weaved his way through the defense, but was knocked down from behind before he could get off a shot.

ORU controlled – and at times dominated – play in the first half, leading by as many as 15 points when Andre Hardy's (San Diego, Calif.) layup with 2:08 left made it 34-19. The Golden Eagles owned a plus-7 rebounding edge (21-14) and limited the Lobos to 31 percent shooting in the half in building their lead.

Jarvis led all scorers with 22 points, going 8-of-17 from the field and 6-of-13 from three-point range. Morrison added 12 points, his first double-digit effort in four games. Ford chipped in 10 points with eight boards, two blocks and two steals.

Dandridge led New Mexico with 20 points, while Faris finished with 16.

ORU shot 44 percent for the game, including 8-of-20 from beyond the arc. But the Golden Eagles were just 11-of-19 from the free throw line, and were out-rebounded 38-32.

Up next for ORU are three games in three days at the San Juan Shootout, Dec. 20-22. The Golden Eagles open play against Wright State, 4:15 p.m., CST, Saturday.

--ORU--