The Basics
Score: ECU 68 - ORU 75
Records: ECU (0-1 Exh.) - ORU (1-0 Exh.)
Location: Mabee Center - Tulsa, Okla.

TULSA, Okla. - A late surge gave the Oral Roberts University men's basketball team the lead as the Golden Eagles topped East Central 75-68 Monday evening in an exhibition game inside the Mabee Center.

After a hot start by ECU in which the Tigers shot 6-6 from the field and 4-4 from 3-point range to open up an 11-point lead, ORU battled back with the inside game of Brandon Conley and Denell Henderson who combined for 25 points. Korey Billbury scored 13 of his 20 points in the second half and got to the free throw line a game-high 13 times, converting 10 as the junior earned a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Quote of the Game
"I'm glad it was an exhibition game. I wasn't as nervous as if it was a game that had gone into the record books. Give East Central a lot of credit. Obviously they shot the ball extremely well in the first half. We finally caught up and I thought we had chances to extend the lead a little bit and they'd jump up and hit a three." - Coach Scott Sutton

Turning Point
A 9-1 run in the second half, capped by a 3-point play by Korey Billbury, made it 49-48 and gave ORU its first lead since it was 4-3 in the game's opening minute.

Individual Leaders
Oral Roberts: Korey Billbury had 20 points and 11 rebounds, leading ORU in both categories. Denell Henderson added 13 points, and Brandon Conley chipped in 12.
East Central: Stirling Thomas led all scorers with 25 points, including a 4-6 mark from 3-point range. Henry Pwono added a double-double for the Tigers with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Inside the Box Score
- ORU shot 52 percent (15-29) in the second half, overcoming a 35 percent (11-31) start to the game.
- ECU went the other way, hitting 56 percent (15-27) in the first half and 36 percent (10-28) in the second.
- The Golden Eagles got to the free throw line 31 times but hit just 20 of them. Korey Billbury had 13 attempts, going 10-13 from the charity stripe.

News & Notes
- ECU started the game 6-6 from the field and 4-4 from 3-point range to open up a 16-5 lead.
- ORU started 0-10 from 3-point range before Dederick Lee hit the team's first triple at the 18:59 mark of the second half.
- Dating back to 2002-03, ORU is now 25-0 in exhibition play.

Up Next
The Golden Eagles will be back in action to wrap up exhibition play against Rogers State Saturday, November

For the latest information on ORU men's basketball, follow @ORUMBB on Twitter or go to www.ORUAthletics.com.

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