Box Score | Season Stats | 2023-24 Schedule
 
The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 67 – North Dakota State 72
Record: ORU (8-11, 2-4) – NDSU (9-11, 2-3)
Location: Fargo, N.D. (Scheels Center)
 
FARGO, N.D. – Kareem Thompson captured a career high in the Oral Roberts men's basketball team's loss at North Dakota State, 72-67, Saturday afternoon in Fargo, North Dakota.
 
Thompson scored 23 for a career high in what is now back-to-back games where a Golden Eagle has achieved a new stat milestone. He led all scorers it was the fifth time in his career with 20-plus points. Issac McBride followed up with 16 points and DeShang Weaver had 13 to make three Golden Eagles achieve double-digits.
 
ORU started the game with points on its first two possessions taking an early, 4-0, lead. NDSU take a 7-6 lead with 14 minutes to go before a foul sent Jailen Bedford to the line for two foul shots. He connected on one to tie the game shortly after. Nearly a three minute scoring drought for ORU was eventually broken after a steal and layup by Kareem Thompson. Thompson would score again after a defensive stop to give ORU the lead again. The Bison went up by four at the 10 minute mark and then by six a minute later. It was a 7-0 run by NDSU and was snapped by McBride at the other end. The Bison held a 21-13 lead with six minutes to go as another two-plus minute scoring drought plagued ORU. Thompson dribbled across the baseline and bounced it to Weaver for a dunk that sparked a five point swing after a defensive stop and a three by Thompson at the other end. He then scored again to make it a 7-0 and bring the Golden Eagles back to within one. ORU then managed to tie the game twice with under two minutes left in the first. NDSU took a 33-29 lead into the locker room as both teams shot around 45 percent from the field. Thompson led all scorers with 14 points.
 
In the second, NDSU scored the first four to open the half before Thompson gave ORU its first bucket. After back-to-back three's by Weaver and a steal and score by Jalen Miller, ORU brought it back to within one, 40-39, at the first media timeout. With 14:30 to go, ORU took the lead on a bucket by Jones off a nice slip screen and assist by McBride. At the under 12, the game was tied, 46-46, making it the fifth tie of the day. After consecutive buckets by NDSU, Thompson answered making it a one point game again. Bedford then game ORU the lead again with a three and the Golden Eagles went up by four with a three by McBride with 8:35 to go. NDSU would come back to tie and then take a two point lead, which was a part of a 6-0 run, with 6:45 to play. The Bison would extend the run to 7-0 before McBride would score to pull ORU back to one. Bedford would hit a three and ORU would tie the game for the ninth tie as 2:51 left. The Golden Eagles had a two point lead with two minutes to, but the Bison would answer and it was 62-62 with 1:45 on the clock. Down by four with 30 seconds, McBride hit a layup and was fouled. He made the layup to pull to within one. Down the stretch, free-throws kept NDSU ahead and would end it with a 72-67 final.
 
Both teams shot 40-plus percent overall in the game, however, free-throw shooting was the difference maker as NDSU made it to the line 32 times compared to ORU only having nine attempts, despite scoring more points in the paint, 28-22. Josh Jones and Sir Issac Herron both fouled out in the contest as ORU was called for 26 total fouls compared to the Bison being called for nine. The Golden Eagles out-shot NDSU by five and each team scored nine three-pointers.

Individual Leaders
Oral Roberts: Thompson scored 23 points and had nine rebounds.  
 
North Dakota State: Boden Skunberg recorded 20 points and Andrew Morgan grabbed 13 boards.

Inside the Box Score/News & Notes
- ORU shot 47.4 percent from the three-point line.
 
- ORU shot 46.3 percent from the field.

- The Golden Eagles had 10 assists on 25 made baskets.

- Oral Roberts had 28 points in the paint and six bench points.

- ORU forced NDSU to 11 turnovers and scored 15 points off those takeaways.
 
- Thompson's 23 points were a career high.

Up Next
The Golden Eagles return home to the Mabee Center Thursday, January 25 to face Omaha at 7 p.m. for Eli's Birthday and Letterwinner Night.

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.