TULSA-Oral Roberts' defense allowed 54 second-half points in a
83-68 loss to cross-town rival Tulsa in the annual Mayor's Cup
game, Tuesday at Reynolds Center.
Leading 37-29 at halftime, the Golden Eagles (0-2) couldn't stop
Tulsa (1-1) in the second half and also had trouble scoring. ORU
missed its first 10 field goals after halftime and didn't score at
all until Warren
Niles (Cincinnati, Ohio) put back his own missed shot with
14:08 left in the game. Despite the slow start, Niles' basket
pulled ORU to within 39-38.
But Tulsa's Steven Idlett led the way in the second half, scoring
18 of his game-high 20 points in the final 18:36.
With ORU trailing 47-46 with 10:49 to go, Idlett scored eight of
TU's next 13 points as the Golden Hurricane surged to 60-52
advantage with 5:28 left. Justin Hurtt followed Idlett's outburst
with a three-pointer to make it 63-52 with 4:52 remaining and the
Golden Hurricane never looked back.
In the first half, ORU used timely shooting and solid defense to
gain control of the game. A layup by Ken
Holdman (Tulsa, Okla.) and a three-pointer by Hunter
McClintock (Durham, N.C.) gave the Golden Eagles a 14-10 lead
with 12:01 left before halftime.
The lead eventually swelled to eight points twice, the last time
coming when a Dominique
Morrison (Kansas City, Mo.) layup gave ORU a 32-24 edge with
2:53 before the break.
ORU shot just 38 percent from the field, but turned in a 7-for-16
effort from three-point range. The Golden Eagles were 11-of-16 from
the free throw line and made just 11 turnovers.
Tulsa shot 58 percent in the second half to finish at 52 percent
for the game. The Golden Hurricane were 9-of-19 on three pointers
and made 24-of-31 from the line.
Tulsa out-rebounded ORU, 37-33.
Morrison led the Golden Eagles with 19 points, adding six rebounds
and five assists. Niles chipped 14 points.
Hurtt scored 19 points for TU, followed by Clarkson with 17 and
Scottie Haralson with 13.
The Golden Eagles return to the court when they host Indiana State,
7:05 p.m., Saturday at Mabee Center.
--ORU--
