Box Score | Season Stats | 2019-20 Schedule
The Basics
Score: North Dakota State 73 - Oral Roberts 79
Record: NDSU (11-6, 2-1 SL) – ORU (8-8, 1-2 SL)
Location: Tulsa, Okla. (Mabee Center)
TULSA, Okla. – The Oral Roberts men's basketball team used a 9-0 run in the final minutes Thursday night to erase a late deficit against North Dakota State and secure a 79-73 victory inside the Mabee Center.
The Golden Eagles were able to attack the basket and get to the foul line eight times during the push over the final two minutes picking up their first Summit League win of the season facing the preseason favorite Bison.
After falling behind in the early minutes, 14-6, due to a strong outside shooting effort by NDSU, the Golden Eagles pushed back and scored the next 11 points as Kevin Obanor, Max Abmas and Francis Lacis all connected from long range. ORU extended the run posting a dominant drive over a nearly five-minute span moving in front, 23-16, thanks to a 17-2 spurt.
The margin stretched as high as 13 points, 39-26, with four minutes remaining in the frame as Abmas hit his third 3-pointer of the opening stanza. The Bison chipped away at the advantage and closed to within nine, 41-32, at halftime knocking down a triple at the buzzer.
That made basket before the break kick started the NDSU offense as it came out firing from intermission putting up the game's next 12 points moving ahead of ORU, 44-41. Abmas drilled an open 3-pointer to even the score as the teams went back-and-forth over a three-minute span until Emmanuel Nzekwesi hit a pair of free throws giving the Golden Eagles a 59-52 cushion at the 8:19 mark during an 8-1 run.
Again it was the visitors from Fargo, North Dakota, that answered the bell eventually jumping ahead, 71-68, shortly after tallying a rare, four-point play. ORU posted nine-straight points over a 2:40 span regaining control of the action knocking down 7-of-8 free throw attempts during the burst and secured its ninth-consecutive home victory.
Quote of the Game
"I think what I'm more proud of than anything else is that this group is really resilient. Our guys had some grit and this group's resiliency is a tribute to all of the guys in that locker room." – Head Coach Paul Mills
Turning Point
The Bison built a three-point edge, 71-68, with only 3:02 remaining in regulation, but Nzekwesi closed the gap scoring in the paint to make it a one-point contest. Deondre Burns used his speed to get to the basket drawing contact and the senior converted both free throws giving ORU a 72-71 lead. That helped the home side to a 9-0 run sealing the victory down the stretch.
Individual Leaders
Oral Roberts: Burns and Abmas combined for 43 points in the Golden Eagles backcourt as each shot 8-of-12 from the floor.
North Dakota State: Vinnie Shahid paced the Bison scoring 25 points on a 7-of-14 shooting performance on the road aided by hitting 7-of-7 free throws.
Inside the Box Score
- Burns led the Golden Eagles with 22 points and had a game-high nine rebounds. The senior shot all eight of his free throw attempts in the final 3:36 making six.
- Abmas found his shots falling all night putting up 21 points hitting 5-of-8 from distance, including 15 points in the opening half, and added a block in the closing seconds.
- R.J. Fuqua was a spark off the ORU bench totaling eight points, a game-best five assists and just one turnover. The Tulsa, Oklahoma, native added two steals and was a +20 when on the court playing more than 32 minutes.
- Nzekwesi finished two rebounds shy of a double-double recording 12 points and eight rebounds, while Obanor registered 13 points and seven rebounds.
- ORU capitalized on its team speed pushing the tempo leading to 21 fastbreak points, while shooting 53 percent in the game (28-of-53).
News and Notes
- The Golden Eagles snapped a three-game losing skid against NDSU to remain a perfect 7-0 on their home floor this season.
- Thursday's contest featured eight lead changes and six tied scores as each team posted a run of double digits.
- NDSU, the defending Summit League tournament champions and preseason favorites, suffered its first loss of conference play this season getting only three points from its bench.
Up Next
ORU closes its weekend at home Jan. 11 as North Dakota makes just its second trip to the Mabee Center for a 7 p.m. showdown on ESPN3 during Star Wars Night.
For the latest information on ORU men's basketball, follow @ORUMBB on Twitter or Instagram, or go to www.ORUAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the ORU Athletics Front Row App at ORUAthletics.com/frontrow or the ORU Golden Eagles Live App in iTunes or the Google Play Store. For tickets, visit mabeecenter.com or call 495-7ORU (7678).
#GoldenStandard
