TULSA—Robert Jarvis (Humble, Texas) scored a game-high 22 points to lead Oral Roberts University to a 72-64 Summit League win over UMKC, Thursday at Mabee Center. The win, coupled with IUPUI's loss at Oakland, clinches at least a share of ORU's fourth-straight regular-season league title.

The victory also gave ORU its fourth consecutive 20-win season, and improved the Golden Eagles to 20-6 overall and 15-1 in league play. Additionally, the victory gave the ORU coach Scott Sutton and his family its 1,000th collegiate victory.

Jarvis was 7-of-14 from the field, including 4-of-9 from three-point range as he enjoyed his best offensive game since exploding for a career-high 34 points against Southern Utah on Jan. 26.

Thursday's game was a far cry from the teams' earlier meeting, a 75-47 ORU rout on Jan. 24 in Kansas City. This time, the Kangaroos (9-19, 4-11) gave the Golden Eagles a 40-minute effort.

The Golden Eagles struggled to gain any footing early on leading just 14-12 with 9:14 left in the first half. But a 12-2 run, which included six points by Jarvis, helped ORU stretch its lead to 26-14 with 6:09 left before the break.

Unlike the previous meeting, however, UMKC didn't fold. The Kangaroos responded with an 8-2 spurt, pulling within 28-22 on a three-pointer by Reggie Hamilton with 4:05 left. After ORU pushed the lead back to eight points, UMKC's Tim Blackwell scored five points in the final 1:46 of the half, trimming ORU's lead to 32-29 at halftime.

The second half was a near-carbon copy of the first half. ORU struggled to gain any momentum until late. Despite shooting 65 percent in the second half, the Golden Eagles never led by more than nine points until less than three minutes remained.

UMKC got as close as four points several times, until a trey by Jarvis and a layup by Marcus Lewis (Long Beach, Calif.) made it 66-55 with 2:38 to play. ORU matched the 11-point lead when a dunk by Adam Liberty (Oklahoma City, Okla.) made it 68-57 with 1:11 left.

Jarvis was one of three Golden Eagles to score in double figures. Liberty tossed in 15, adding three assists and four steals. Shawn King (Bequia, St. Vincent) added 14 points, and eight rebounds in 24 minutes.

Hamilton paced UMKC, matching Jarvis with 22 points. Blackwell added 14 and Spencer Johnson chipped in 11.

The Golden Eagles shot 55.6 percent for the game, but just 5-of-14 from three-point range. ORU also struggled at the free throw line, hitting 56.7 percent (17-30) from the stripe.

UMKC converted 45.3 percent of its shots, and was 8-of-19 from 3-point range. ORU owned a huge advantage at the line, as the ‘Roos were only 8-of-9 from the stripe. The Golden Eagles out-rebounded UMKC, 31-26.

Up next for the Golden Eagles is a nationally televised Bracket Buster match-up with Missouri Valley Conference power Creighton, 2 p.m., Saturday at Mabee Center. The game can be seen live on ESPN2.

--ORU--