The Basics: Kansas City (Summit League Men's Basketball Championships)
Game Thirty-Two
#8 Oral Roberts (9-22), (4-12) vs #9 Kansas City (4-26), (1-15)
Date/Time: Wednesday, March 4^th / 7:00 PM
TV/Video: Summit League Network
Live Stats: The Summit League
Tickets: The Summit League
Location: Denny Sanford PREMIER Center (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
 
TULSA, Okla. – The ORU men's basketball program will head up to Sioux Falls, S.D. for the Summit League Men's Basketball Championships from March 4^th-8^th at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. The Golden Eagles will begin their quest for a sixth Summit League tournament title against the Kansas City Roos in the #8/9 game on March 4^th at 7 PM.
 
Fans can watch the games on Summit League Network 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
Tournament Central
Bracket
Game Notes

Quick Hits
• The Roos and Golden Eagles will face off for the third time this season and the second time in a row to open the Summit League Tournament Championships in the #8/9 game.
• 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.
• ORU ranked 68th in non-conference strength of schedule, per KenPom.
• In games won, the Golden Eagles are scoring 84.4 ppg while holding their opponents to just 65.4 ppg.
• Through 16 games of Summit League play, ORU is second in blocks per game, averaging 3.56.
• Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams is third in the League, averaging 1.1 bpg through his 15 Summit League contests.
• Through 31 games played, Ty Harper ranks third in the Summit League in scoring, averaging 17.9 ppg.
• ORU holds the longest win streak in the Summit League heading into the Summit League Men's Basketball Tournament.
• The Golden Eagles recorded back-to-back 90+ point Summit League wins for the first time since 2017.
• Ofri Naveh recorded his second double-double of the year at St. Thomas, recording 17 points and 12 boards.
• Connor Dow has started every game for the Golden Eagles this season.
• Luke Gray is averaging 14.7 ppg over his last six games.
• Gray is averaging 9.7 ppg in Summit League play compared to his 6.5 ppg in non-conference contests.
• 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.
• ORU shot 61.9 percent from deep vs Kennesaw State, its first time shooting 61.9 percent or better from beyond the arc 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.
• ORU recorded 12 total blocks against Oklahoma State, falling just one block short of tying its single-game record.
• Connor Dow ranks first in the Summit League in three-point attempts (226) and fourth in three-point field goals made, with 73. His 226 attempts rank 38^th nationally.
• The Golden Eagles are 78th in the country and second in the Summit League in 3-point attempts per game, averaging 26.2 per game.
 
Harper's Hot Streak
• Harper was just three points away from hitting the career 1,000-point mark before scoring 47 points on Senior Night vs Denver (2/26/26).
• Ty Harper went a perfect 21-for-21 from the charity stripe vs Denver, the most single-game free throws made by a D1 player this season.
• Harper set the Summit League single-game free-throw percentage record (most attempts).
• Ty is the first Division I player to score 45+ points and go 20-20 or better from the free throw line in a game since USC's John Block in 1966 (via @JaredBerson on X)
• 47 points is the most points by a Summit League player and tied for third by a D1 player this season.
• Ty is now tied for the fifth-most points in a Summit League game all-time.
• Set the Mabee Center record for free-throw percentage, free throws made (Prev. 16) and free-throw attempts (Prev. 19).
• Over ORU's two wins last week (2/23-3/1), Harper led the country in points (74), ppg (37.0), and free throws made (25).
• Harper was named the Lou Henson National Player of the Week and Summit League Peak Performer of the Week on Monday.
• Ty earned Second Team All-League honors, it was announced on Tuesday.
• Over his last five games, Harper is averaging 29.7 ppg.
 
Opponent Information: Kansas City
• Against the Roos, ORU holds a 0-3 record in neutral site games and a 32-15 record all-time.
• The Golden Eagles swept the Roos in the regular season for the first time since 2022-23.
• Karmello Branch leads the Roo offense, scoring 12.5 ppg.
• Branch is one of four Roos who average more than 10 ppg (Branch, Evans, Petty, Grady II).
• Head Coach Marvin Menzies is in his fourth season at the helm of the Roos, holding a 44-82 record.
• On February 1^st, the Roos announced that former University of Maryland Head Coach Mark Turgeon will take over for Head Coach Marvin Menzies next 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.