The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 76 – South Dakota 77
Record: ORU (11-17), (5-10) – South Dakota (11-18), (4-10)
Location: Sanford Coyote Sports Center (Vermillion, South Dakota)
 
VERMILLION, S.D. - The Oral Roberts men's basketball team led for nearly 23 minutes, but a late bucket pushed South Dakota to a 77-76 win Saturday afternoon in Vermillion.
 
The Golden Eagles started strong, with multiple players getting on the board early in a balanced scoring effort. ORU led by six at the halftime break and by as many as 10 early in the second half. However, South Dakota would answer back, and the last 15 minutes saw a very close, back and forth game. With ORU leading by a point, USD inbounded the ball under its own basket with nine seconds to play. Bostyn Holt hit a running layup with six seconds remaining, and an Isaac McBride layup attempt on the other end was off the mark as the buzzer sounded.
 
McBride had an excellent game offensively, scoring a team-best 19 points on 8-13 FG shooting and 3-5 from deep. However, the shooting slump continued for the rest of the team, which combined to go just 4-24 from three-point range. While ORU shot just 26% beyond the arc as a team, the Golden Eagles did shoot 68% from two-point range. South Dakota shot 47% from the field and 39% from three, while making all 14 free throw attempts. ORU led 12-8 in points off turnovers and 11-9 on second chance points.
 
Oral Roberts had five players in double figures including a 10 point, seven rebound and seven assist effort from Kareem Thompson. Jailen Bedford, Sir Isaac Herron and DeShang Weaver all finished in double digits as well, and Trey Phipps added eight points and two steals off the bench, going 2-2 from the field and 4-4 at the foul line.
 
South Dakota was led by Holt with 25 points on 10-18 FG shooting and Lahat Thioune with 19 points and nine rebounds. Kaleb Stewart led the Coyotes with four assists.
 
ORU has a full week off before wrapping up the season at home against Kansas City on Sunday, March 3rd for Senior Day.