The Basics
Score: South Dakota State 81 - Oral Roberts 52
Records: SDSU (21-8, 12-3 SL) - ORU (15-13, 8-6 SL)
Location: Frost Arena - Brookings, S.D.

BROOKINGS, S.D. - An early South Dakota State run was too much for Oral Roberts to overcome as the Golden Eagles fell 81-52 Saturday night at Frost Arena in Brookings, S.D.

The Golden Eagles struggled from the field all night, despite a career-high 18 point effort inside by Albert Owens, who led ORU in scoring for the season. ORU shot just 40 percent for the game, while South Dakota State was pouring it in at a 75-percent clip early on and finished at 60 percent in the first half to open up a 45-22 lead at the break. ORU shot a season low 39 percent (7-18) from the free throw line.

George Marshall led the Jackrabbits with 17 points, while the Jackrabbits held a 43-27 advantage in rebounding for the game.

Quote of the Game
"To get beat like this tonight is mind-boggling. I don't know where this team has gone the last two weeks. Two weeks ago we battled our tails off in Fort Wayne and had a chance to beat the team that was probably playing better than anyone in the league at that time and since then we've played like a team that is just playing out the season. I thought A.J. really battled and did a lot of good things. He's still got a lot of room for improvement and that's what is exciting about him." - Coach Scott Sutton

Turning Point
A 19-2 run in the first half allowed the Jackrabbits to open up a 27-8 lead and ORU was never able to get back in the game.

Individual Leaders
Oral Roberts: ORU got a career-best 18 points from Albert Owens, the lone double-digit scorer for the Golden Eagles. Korey Billbury grabbed nine rebounds.
South Dakota State: George Marshall scored 17 points, Cody Larson added 15 and Deondre Parks scored 13.

Inside the Box Score
- Despite a 43-27 rebounding advantage for the Jackrabbits, no one on the team had more than six boards.
- ORU shot 40 percent (20-50) from the field, 26 percent (5-19) from 3-point range and just 39 percent (7-18) from the free throw line in the loss.
- South Dakota State shot 51 percent (29-57) from the field for the game, including 61 percent (17-28) in the first half.

News & Notes
- Saturday marked the second time this year in which ORU has shot less than 50 percent from the free throw line, both times coming against South Dakota State.
- The Golden Eagles did not register a block in the game. It is just the second time this year in which ORU has not blocked a shot and snapped a 24-game streak.
- Korey Billbury matched his season low in scoring with four points, but was active on the glass with nine rebounds.
- ORU is now 8-6 all-time against the Jackrabbits, having dropped both meetings this season.
- Albert Owens posted a new career best, topping his 12-points scored against Oklahoma.
- Saturday marked the first time Owens has led the team in scoring for a game. He is the fifth player this season to lead ORU in scoring for a game.

Up Next
ORU returns home for the final two games of the regular season, hosting North Dakota State Thursday, February 26, and Denver Saturday, February 28. Both games will tip off at 7 p.m. from the Mabee Center and will be broadcast on ESPN3.

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

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