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The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 91 – Denver 82
Record: ORU (8-6, 5-1 SL) – DU (1-10, 0-4 SL)
Location: Denver, Colo. (Hamilton Gymnasium)
 
DENVER, Colo. – It was a complete team effort Saturday afternoon as the Oral Roberts men's basketball team never trailed and completed a weekend sweep at Denver winning 91-82 from Hamilton Gymnasium.
 
Kevin Obanor's 25 points led four Golden Eagles in double-digit scoring, while the team made a season-high 29 free throws securing back-to-back road victories in a span of nearly 24 hours.
 
ORU brought the energy from the opening tip playing with an intensity not seen all season and it led to a quick 7-0 lead as Kareem Thompson drilled a 3-pointer and followed with a reverse layup on an offensive rebound. The margin went to 12-3 and the Golden Eagles maintained the edge when Francis Lacis scored at the rim for a 20-11 cushion. Denver chipped away and was able to even the score, 21-21, on a 10-1 run.
 
The final eight minutes of the half belonged to the visitors as ORU dominated the Pioneers by jumping into passing lanes and forcing turnovers, while Nate Clover III blocked three shot attempts. An 8-0 run by the Golden Eagles gave them a 29-21 advantage by holding Denver scoreless for more than four minutes. ORU added a 9-0 burst highlighted by a steal at mid-court from Carlos Jürgens and a two-handed slam on the break to move in front, 38-24, and held a 12-point lead at halftime.
 
Obanor knocked down a triple to help ORU keep its advantage in double digits, 44-34, but the home side was able to climb back into the game making it a one-possession affair, 47-44, at the 14:46 mark. A Lacis 3-pointer put the Golden Eagles back in front by eight only to see the Pioneers get back within three. ORU scored the next eight points pushing its lead back to 60-49.
 
Denver was able to close the gap to two, 68-66, with 5:46 minutes to play behind a 6-0 stretch, but it was RJ Glasper that connected on a pair of free throws starting a 9-2 run for ORU to regain a nine-point margin, 77-68. The advantage never dropped below four as the Golden Eagles put away the Pioneers by converting their free throws for a 91-82 win moving to 5-1 in Summit League action.
 
Turning Point
After Denver made a run to even the score, 21-21, DeShang Weaver knocked down a jumper to open a huge run for the Golden Eagles as they scored 17 of the next 20 points in nearly six minutes for a 38-24 advantage. ORU finished the burst getting five points by Jürgens and two from Glasper in a span of 41 seconds.
 
Individual Leaders
Oral Roberts: Obanor was forced to sit extended minutes in the first half with foul trouble, but the redshirt junior was not deterred and totaled 25 points.

Denver: For the second-straight day, Jase Townsend provided the offense for the Pioneers scoring 35 points as he made 11-of-20 shots and made all nine free-throw attempts.

Inside the Box Score
- Obanor would not be slowed around the rim shooting 8-of-13 overall for 25 points, his sixth game with at least 20 points this season. The Houston, Texas, native also was a perfect 8-of-8 at the free-throw line and added six rebounds and two assists
 
- Thompson posted a season-high 15 points hitting all three of his shot attempts, including two from 3-point range. He made 7-of-8 free throws reaching double figures for the sixth time this year.
 
- Glasper also tallied 15 points for ORU, his highest scoring output in league play, and has scored double-digit points in each of his last seven outings. The Forrest City, Arkansas, product hit 5-of-10 from the floor Saturday.
 
- Abmas failed to score for the first 28 minutes of the game, but was able to produce in other ways matching Obanor for the team lead with six rebounds and three assists. The sophomore ended up scoring 14 points thanks to six made free throws.
 
- Clover III and Ismael Plet provided vital minutes in the first half with Obanor in foul trouble as the pair combined for five points, but it was the defensive effort that made the difference for ORU.
 
News and Notes
- The Golden Eagles forced Denver into 16 turnovers leading to 20 points on the offensive end.
 
- ORU got to the foul line 34 times Saturday, the most of any game this season and took advantage by converting 29 for an 85 percent effort, including a 21-of-24 performance in the second half.
 
- The Golden Eagles have now won four-consecutive road games in league play for the first time since 2012-13 when they were members of the Southland Conference.
 
Up Next
ORU is back at the Mabee Center for its next two Summit League contests hosting Kansas City for the first time in the Roos' return to the conference. The games are scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 23 and 24 with live video on ORUSN.
 
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.