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The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 76 – RV Arkansas 87
Record: ORU (3-5) – UA (7-0)
Location: Fayetteville, Ark. (Bud Walton Arena)
 
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Oral Roberts men's basketball team had a 12-point lead in the second half slip away as Arkansas rallied back in an 87-76 loss on the road at Bud Walton Arena Sunday afternoon.
 
The Golden Eagles got a double-double from Kevin Obanor and it was the redshirt junior's basket to open the second half that gave ORU a 12-point lead after being in front by 10 at halftime.
 
The Razorbacks, a team receiving votes in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Polls, opened the game scoring the first six points until Kareem Thompson drove to the basket and finished at the rim putting ORU on the board. The Golden Eagles continued to chip away and eventually claimed an 11-10 lead on a RJ Glasper jumper. Arkansas regained a one-point cushion, but it was all ORU from there using an 8-0 run covering three minutes for a 20-13 advantage.
 
The Golden Eagles allowed the home side to cut the margin to three, 21-18, but DeShang Weaver drilled a 3-pointer and Max Abmas scored on the fast break with an and-1 and ORU again led by 10. The advantage pushed as high as 12 three times in the frame and the Golden Eagles were able to take a double-digit lead, 40-30, into intermission.
 
After Obanor scored on ORU's opening possession of the second half, the Razorbacks made it a 45-39 game until Thompson connected from distance, which would be the last basket for ORU in a nearly four-minute stretch. Arkansas turned up the defensive pressure forcing the Golden Eagles into uncharacteristic turnovers on a 10-0 run to erase the deficit and jump in front, 49-48. Abmas put the Golden Eagles ahead again driving coast-to-coast on a long inbound pass and followed by hitting a long-range 3-pointer giving ORU a 54-49 edge.
 
Arkansas registered eight-straight points to swing momentum in its favor taking a 59-55 lead before ORU fought back to even the game, 62-62, on a pair of Carlos Jürgens free throws. The Razorbacks used an extended, 6-0 run and stretched their advantage to 75-66. The Golden Eagles pulled within five, but could get no closer falling 87-76.
 
Turning Point
Thompson's triple from the corner in front of his ORU teammates gave the visitors a nine-point lead at the 16:34 mark of the second half. The Golden Eagles failed to score in the next 3:45 and committed five turnovers in that stretch that allowed Arkansas to score 10-consecutive points and move ahead by one, 49-48.
 
Individual Leaders
Oral Roberts: Obanor used a strong opening frame to post another double-double performance as the Houston, Texas, native finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

Arkansas: Justin Smith played nearly the entire game and led all players with 22 points and 17 rebounds, including 10 offensive boards.

Inside the Box Score
- Obanor closed the opening half with 12 points and seven rebounds on his way to his third double-double this year. It was the 13th time in his ORU career he registered 20 or more points.
 
- Glasper, who spent his freshman season at Arkansas, was able to score off the dribble and went on to tally 14 points along with four rebounds and two assists.
 
- Thompson knocked down three from the outside recording 13 total points, six rebounds and three assists.
 
- Weaver put together one of his best outings of the season hitting 3-of-6 3-pointers for 11 points and blocked three shots, while Abmas also scored in double digits adding 11 and a team-best four assists.
 
News and Notes
- The Golden Eagles had five players reach double-digit scoring for the third time this season.
 
- ORU held the Razorbacks to just 17 percent from 3-point range (4-of-24), but could not overcome 24 offensive rebounds leading to 22 second-chance points.
 
- ORU was out-boarded by a 58-32 margin allowing the most rebounds by an opponent this year.
 
Up Next
The Golden Eagles are off for the holidays and return to the hardwood with the beginning of Summit League action heading to Omaha for two games against the Mavericks Jan. 2-3.
 
For the latest information on ORU Men's Basketball, follow the Golden Eagles on Twitter and Instagram, or go to www.ORUAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the ORU Athletics app from the App Store or Google Play Store.