The Basics: Missouri State
Game Twelve
Oral Roberts (5-7), (0-0) at Missouri State (4-5), (0-0)
Date/Time: Tuesday, December 16 / 7:00 p.m.
TV/Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: Missouri State Athletics
Tickets: Missouri State Athletics
Location: Great Southern Bank Arena (Springfield, Missouri)
 
TULSA, Okla. – The ORU men's basketball program will head to Springfield, Missouri, to face off against the Missouri State Bears on Tuesday, December 16^th at 7 PM as they hit the closing stretch of non-conference play.

Fans can watch the game on ESPN+ or tune into Behind the Mic with Connor Clark on X, Facebook and YouTube. Fans can also stay up to date on the action by following along on X @ORUMBB.

Important Links
Summit League Notebook
Game Notes

Quick Hits
• ORU will take on the Missouri State Bears in Springfield, Missouri, at Great Southern Bank Arena.
• Head Coach Kory Barnett was named the 13th head coach of the Oral Roberts men's basketball program on March 8th, 2025.
• The Golden Eagles picked up their first win of the Kory Barnett era on 11/8/25, defeating John Brown 84-50.
• ORU has welcomed 12 newcomers this offseason (four freshmen and eight transfers).
• Luke Gray averaged 3.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg in 2024-25 while Chase Martin utilized a redshirt.
• In games won, the Golden Eagles are scoring 85.6 ppg while holding their opponents to just 63.4 ppg.
• Five players finished in double figures (Dow, Turner, Harper, Gray, Naveh) as ORU took down Ecclesia on Saturday, 97-52, to pick up its third consecutive win at the Mabee Center.
• The Golden Eagles erased a 20-point halftime deficit (42-22) against Montana State on Dec. 6, outscoring the Bobcats 50-26 in the second half to secure a 72-68 victory.
• ORU shot 61.9 percent from deep vs Kennesaw State, its first time shooting 61.9 percent or better since playing Western Illinois on 2/27/20 (63%, 17-27).
• ORU had two double-doubles (vs Haskell) for the first time since facing off against NDSU on March 7^th, 2023 (Abmas- 26/10 assists, Vanover-10/10 rebounds).
• The Golden Eagles grabbed 20 offensive rebounds against John Brown earlier this year, their first 20+ OREB game since facing Haskell on November 18th, 2021.
• Connor Dow ranks first in the Summit League in three-point attempts (90), third in three-point percentage (36.7%) and second in three-pointers per game (2.75). Dow also ranks 39^th nationally in 3-point field goals made, with 33.
• The Golden Eagles rank 48^th in the country in free-throw percentage and first in the Summit League, shooting 76.5 percent from the line this season.
• As a team, ORU ranks 71st in the country and first in the Summit League in three-pointers per game, knocking down 9.6 per game.
• ORU recorded 12 total blocks against Oklahoma State, falling just one short of tying its single-game record.

Opponent Information: Missouri State
• ORU holds a 10-12 record against the Bears and is 2-8 all-time on the road.
• The Golden Eagles faced Missouri State at the Mabee Center last season, falling 72-67.
• Keith Palek III is leading the Missouri State offense, averaging 17.4 ppg to go along with 7.2 reb and 3.7 assists. He leads the team in all three stat categories, along with field goals made (53) and field goal attempts (123).
• Head Coach Cuonzo Martin holds a 74-69 record over his five years at Missouri State.
• Coach Martin returned to Missouri State in 2024 after his stint as head coach from 2008-2011, in which he led the Bears to their lone Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship.

For the latest information on ORU men's basketball, follow @ORUMBB on X, Instagram, and Facebook or go to www.ORUAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the ORU Athletics App in the Google Play or App Store.