The Basics
Oral Roberts (3-4, 0-0) vs. Ozark Christian (3-5, 0-0)
Game Date/Time: Saturday, December 9, 2023 / 7 p.m.
Location: Mabee Center / Tulsa, Okla.
Video: KGEB-TV 53 Cox Cable 23 / Summit League Network
Audio: 99.9 FM ESPN Radio
Stats: ORU Athletics

TULSA, Okla. – The Oral Roberts men's basketball team returns to the Mabee Center Saturday, December 9 to host Ozark Christian for Teacher Appreciation Night at 7 p.m.

It will be Teacher, Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night at the Mabee Center. All educators are encouraged to visit www.oruathletics.com/freetickets and will receive four (4) free tickets to the game. Must be redeemed in the north lobby of the Mabee Center.

Fans can tune in to watch the game via KGEB-TV 53 Cox Cable 23 / 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-straight 20-plus point outings and six-straight 10-plus point outings so far this season. He continues to lead the team in scoring by averaging 22.1 points per game which puts him at ninth in the nation. He is 61 points shy from 1,000 ORU career points.

• ORU is on a 19 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 third longest home game win streak, behind Liberty (20) and UCLA (29).

• Through seven games, along with McBride, three other Golden Eagles average double-digits. DeShang Weaver averages 13.7 ppg., newcomer Jailen Bedford scores 12.9 ppg. and Thompson adds on 11 points per game.

• Weaver is currently fifth in the nation in blocks per game averaging 3.0 bpg. He is 15th in the nation in total blocks with 21. He has a total of 129 career blocks which puts him seventh 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 second meeting all-time between ORU and Ozark Christian. The Golden Eagles won the first meeting of the series, 116-68. The last time the two met on the hardwood was November 29, 2022, at the Mabee Center.
 
• The Ambassadors are 3-5 on the season. In its most recent game, Ozark defeated Union College, 76-64, at home.

• Andre Johnson and Joel Pugh lead the Ambassadors in scoring. Johnson averages 15.2 points and Pugh with 14 points per game. Dre Johnson played in one game this season and scored 16 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.