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The Basics
Score: Kansas City 81 – Oral Roberts 76
Record: KC (6-9, 2-4 SL) – ORU (9-7, 6-2 SL)
Location: Tulsa, Okla. (Mabee Center)
 
TULSA, Okla. – A comeback bid from the Oral Roberts men's basketball team came up short Sunday night falling to Kansas City, 81-76, inside the Mabee Center snapping a four-game winning streak.
 
For the second night in a row, the Golden Eagles saw the visitors build a double-digit lead and were forced to make a furious push late in the game, but this time they could not complete the rally despite a 24-point night from Max Abmas.
 
Francis Lacis scored the first five points for ORU as the teams played even through the opening minutes until a DeShang Weaver jumper capped a 7-0 run giving the home side a 12-7 lead. Kansas City used a 9-2 push to jump in front before Max Abmas pulled up from way outside and his 3-pointer gave the Golden Eagles a 17-16 advantage at the 12-minute mark.
 
The rest of the first half belonged to the Roos as the visitors scored the next seven points and extended the stretch on a 15-2 run that covered nearly six minutes for a 12-point margin. Kareem Thompson hit a fading jumper in the paint and Abmas added a basket closing the deficit to eight, 31-23, before Kansas City knocked down a half-court shot at the buzzer for a 41-30 lead at intermission.
 
Kevin Obanor converted a pair of free throws starting the second stanza only to see the Roos score six of the next eight points maintaining their edge, 47-34. Kansas City limited ORU to two points in a three-minute stretch as the margin swelled to 54-38 with 12:57 to play. Abmas connected from distance again as the Golden Eagles fought back with a 9-3 burst closing the gap to 57-47 and the sophomore drained another jumper minutes later pulling ORU within single digits, 64-55.
 
A corner 3-pointer by D'Mauria Jones made it a 70-62 game and the Golden Eagles were able to keep chipping away at the deficit. Carlos Jürgens scored five points in 17 seconds on a triple and driving layup after a mid-court steal cutting the lead to five, 77-72. Kansas City was able to hold off the rally in the final two minutes to split the weekend series as ORU fell, 81-76.
 
Turning Point
After ORU took a 17-16 lead with 11:52 to play in the first half, Kansas City scored the next seven points and held the Golden Eagles scoreless for more than three minutes taking control of the game. The advantage never changed sides the rest of the contest.
 
Individual Leaders
Oral Roberts: Abmas led the Golden Eagles for the second-straight game tallying 24 points converting 8-of-15 attempts, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range.

Kansas City: Brandon McKissic was efficient in his shooting leading the Roos with 24 points on a 10-of-13 effort from the floor.

Inside the Box Score
- Abmas reached 20 or more points for the eighth time this season and second time during the weekend and the Rockwall, Texas, native added three rebounds and two steals.
 
- Glasper registered 12 points thanks to hitting 5-of-6 free throws and matched Thompson for the team lead with three assists.
 
- Obanor tallied 13 points and a team-best seven rebounds.
 
- Jones and Jürgens gave ORU a spark in the second half scoring seven and five points, respectively, while Jürgens added a block and two steals.
 
News and Notes
- Sunday was ORU's first loss to the Roos since 2005 snapping a streak of 15-consecutive victories.
 
- The Golden Eagles made 26-of-50 overall shooting at a 52-percent clip exceeding the 50-percent mark for the sixth time this year.
 
- ORU had 12 players see the court with eight different guys getting double-figure minutes. The bench also chipped in 18 points after scoring zero the previous game.
 
- After turning the ball over 16 times Saturday, the Golden Eagles protected the ball Sunday and gave it away a season-low eight times. It was the third time this season recording fewer than 10 turnovers in a contest.
 
Up Next
ORU has its bye week coming up and will return to the hardwood Feb. 5 and 6 on the road in Fargo, North Dakota, facing the Bison of North Dakota State in a critical pair of games.
 
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.