The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 69 – South Dakota State 77
Record: ORU (7-21), (3-12) – SDSU (20-10), (11-4)
Location: Mabee Center (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
 
TULSA, Okla. – The Oral Roberts men's basketball team was outrebounded 45-28 by the Jackrabbits as SDSU claimed a 77-69 win over the Golden Eagles Thursday night in the Mabee Center.
 
The first half was a back-and-forth battle, with 14 lead changes and nine ties keeping the game tight. ORU took an early five-point lead, but South Dakota State responded, using a strong presence in the paint to edge ahead 31-29 by halftime. Despite shooting just 33.3% from the field, the Golden Eagles kept pace, with Jalen Miller and Sam Alajiki leading the scoring efforts with 11 points each.
 
In the second half, the Golden Eagles briefly reclaimed the lead, but the Jackrabbits' dominance on the boards and clutch scoring down the stretch proved decisive. ORU tied the game at 60-60 with under eight minutes left, but SDSU responded with a 7-0 run led by Oscar Cluff, who finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds. The Golden Eagles fought to stay in it, but SDSU controlled the paint and the clock to secure a 77-69 win.
 
Box Score Highlights
Oral Roberts Individuals: Issac McBride 23 points, 5 rebounds; Sam Alajiki 18 points, 8 rebounds; Jalen Miller 11 points.
 
South Dakota State Individuals: Oscar Cluff 22 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 10-14 FT; Joe Sayler 12 points; Stoney Hadnot 10 points, 9 rebounds.
 
Key Team Stats
ORU shot 40.4 percent (23-57) from the floor, 31.0 percent (9-29) from three, and 82.4 percent (14-17) from the free throw line. ORU had six turnovers and forced nine Jackrabbit turnovers. SDSU dominated the boards and outrebounded ORU 45-28 and won the points in the paint battle 42-26. ORU's bench was outscored 18-12 by the Jackrabbits.
 
Key Turning Point
ORU tied the game 60-60 at the under-eight media timeout. Out of the huddle, SDSU proceeded to go on a 7-0 run powered by four points from Oscar Cluff and a three by Matthew Mors.
 
Key Stats & Notes

• Issac McBride led the Golden Eagles in scoring for the 18th time this season with a game-high 23 points.
• Sam Alajiki (18) and Jalen Miller (11) rounded out the double-figure scorers for ORU.
• McBride, Miller, and Alajiki were all honored pregame for Senior Night.
• ORU falls to 3-12 in Summit League play.

Up Next
The Golden Eagles head to Omaha for a game against the Mavericks on Saturday, March 1 to wrap up the regular season.
 
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.