LAS VEGAS, Nev.-A cold start to the second half helped doom Oral
Roberts in a 69-56 setback to Miami (Fla.) in the opening game of
the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic, Tuesday at South Point Casino
Resort.
The Golden Eagles missed their first nine shots of the second half
and shot just 32 percent in the half overall while allowing Miami
(Fla.) to shoot 56.5 percent over the final 20 minutes en route to
ORU's third straight loss.
After taking a 33-28 lead into the locker room at halftime, the
Golden Eagles (4-7) went cold to start the second half just as
Miami (8-3) got hot. The Hurricanes opened the half with a 15-3
run, taking a 43-36 lead on a Malcolm Grant jumper with 12:44
remaining.
Miami built its lead to 47-38 but ORU slowly chipped away.
Consecutive jumpers by Steven
Roundtree (Jacksonville, Fla.) and a three-point play by Dominique
Morrison (Kansas City, Mo.) pulled the Golden Eagles to within
51-49 with 5:08 remaining.
But that was a close as ORU would get. The Golden Eagles got to
within three points two more times, the last coming when a pair of
free throws by Morrison made it a 56-53 game with 3:45 left. Miami
responded by scoring on its next four possessions, grabbing its
first double-digit lead when a Garrius Adams three-pointer made it
65-55 with 1:10 to go.
The Golden Eagles controlled play in the first half thanks to a
monster effort from Damen
Bell-Holter (Hydaburg, Alaska). The sophomore center scored 13
points and grabbed six rebounds in the first 20 minutes to help ORU
to a five point lead at the break.
Overall, ORU shot just 35.3 percent from the field, including just
3-of-15 from 3-point range. Miami finished the game shooting 52.4
percent.
Both teams shot well from the free throw line. The Golden Eagles
were 17-of-23 from the line (73.9 percent), while Miami was
22-of-27 (81.5 percent). Miami out-rebounded
Morrison led all scorers with 20 points, adding four rebounds and
two steals. Bell-Holter finished with 16 points and nine
boards.
Miami was led by Grant's 15 points.
The Golden Eagles next face UALR, 6:15 p.m. CST on Wednesday.
--ORU--
