The Basics
Oral Roberts (4-6, 0-0) vs. John Brown (6-4, 0-0)
Game Date/Time: Tuesday, December 19, 2023 / 7 p.m.
Location: Mabee Center / Tulsa, Oklahoma
Video: Summit League Network
Audio: 99.9 FM ESPN Radio
Stats: ORU Athletics

TULSA, Okla. – The Oral Roberts men's basketball team will welcome John Brown to the Mabee Center Tuesday, December 19 at 7 p.m. for the annual Christmas game.  

It is the annual Christmas game Tuesday evening inside the Mabee Center and Santa Claus himself will be in attendance. Fans can redeem four (4) free tickets in the North Lobby of the Mabee Center by visiting www.oruathletics.com/freetickets and presenting the graphic at the ticket promotion table. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Fans can tune in to watch the game via Summit League Network or by following along on Twitter @ORUMBB

Important Links
ORU Game Notes
Opponent Game Notes
Summit League Notes

Quick Hits

• Issac McBride was named to the Preseason All-Summit League First Team and Kareem Thompson earned a spot on the Second Team as the Golden Eagles were picked second in the league's preseason poll, but did receive seven first place votes.


• McBride was named Summit League Player of the Week on November 20 and December 4. He's had five 20-plus point outings and six 10-plus point outings so far this season. He continues to lead the team in scoring by averaging 18.3 points per game. He is 34 points shy from 1,000 ORU career points.


• ORU is on a 20 home game winning streak that goes back to the 2022-23 season when the Golden Eagles went undefeated at home winning all 16 home games. It is the nation's second longest home game win streak, behind UCLA (29).


• Through 10 games, along with McBride, three other Golden Eagles average double-digits. Newcomer Jailen Bedford averages 14.3 ppg., DeShang Weaver scores 11.8 ppg. and Thompson also adds on 12.1 points per game.


• Weaver is currently 16^th in the nation in blocks per game averaging 2.4 bpg. He is 23^rd in the nation in total blocks with 24. He has a total of 132 career blocks which puts him sixth all-time in the ORU record book in that category.


• Oral Roberts has eight newcomers joining the squad with two true freshmen and six transfers, including three Power 5 transfers.


• Russell Springmann takes over at the helm of the ORU program in his first season as a head coach in his career. He is in his sixth season at ORU. He earned his first career head coaching win on Nov. 6, 2023, with a 75-71 victory over Mid-America Christian. He earned his first Division-I win with a 65-63 victory at home against Texas Southern.


Scouting the Opponent
 
• This will be the seventh meeting all-time between ORU and John Brown. The Golden Eagles are 6-0 in the series with all wins coming at the Mabee Center. The last time the two teams met, ORU won, 95-62, on November 11, 2022.


• The Golden Eagles are 6-4 on the season. In its most recent game, John Brown fell to East Central, 75-55, in an exhibition contest. JBU defeated #10 Wayland Baptist, 71-69, at home on December 9.


• Malachi Reeves leads JBU with 15.2 points per game and Drew Miller averages 12.9 points.

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.