ORU Snaps Home-Game Win Streak In Loss To SDSU

The Oral Roberts men's basketball team took on South Dakota State Saturday night at the Mabee Center. The Golden Eagles failed to overpower the Jackrabbits, losing 76-72.

Saturday, January 24th 2015, 10:39 pm

By: News On 6


The Oral Roberts men's basketball team took on South Dakota State Saturday night at the Mabee Center. The Golden Eagles failed to overpower the Jackrabbits, losing 76-72, and snapping its home-game winning streak. Oral Roberts is now 10-10 overall and 4-3 in league play. 

This loss put ORU back to .500 on the season, and is the team's second consecutive loss to SDSU, (the first time since 2009 that the Golden Eagles lost back-to-back games against South Dakota State).

First Half:

ORU took an early lead, outscoring South Dakota State 12-8 in the first five minutes of play. With a little under 13 minutes, both teams went back-and-forth missing short shots in the paint. ORU had missed its last five shots, after a 5-of-8 start.

Korey Billbury helped ORU ditch the missing streak with a jumper, escalating the Golden Eagles' lead 17-12 with 10:33 on the board.

By the 8:11 mark, SDSU took a 21-18 lead after Cody Larson knocked down a few shots.

ORU quickly bounced back to make it a one-point game, but failed to take the lead. With five minutes until the half, ORU's leading scorer Obi Emegano hit an easy two-pointer that cut the Jackrabbits lead to three.

With 4:40 left of the half, Emegano and Billbury were both benched so they wouldn't get in early foul trouble. The Golden Eagles held their own without their two main men, disallowing SDSU to majorly extend its lead. ORU then proceeded to go on a 10-4 run.

Adrion Webber sank a fade-away three in the final minute of the half, creating a one-point game for ORU.

Each team turned up its momentum in the final seconds. With just ten seconds on the clock, Jabbar Singleton knocked down a three for ORU. SDSU's Zach Horstman answered back with a jumper at the buzzer.

Going into halftime, the Golden Eagles led 36-33.

Halftime Stats:

ORU

Field Goals: 13-31

3-Point Field Goals: 4-11

Free Throws: 6-13

Points In Paint: 12

Turnovers: 4

SDSU

Field Goals: 13-31

3-Point Field Goals: 1-6

Free Throws: 7-11

Points In Paint: 20

Turnovers: 6

Second Half:

The Jackrabbits took a 41-37 lead in the opening minutes of the second half.

With seven minutes left to play, ORU was 10-21 from the free throw line and trailing 58-65. At this point, Emegano led ORU in scoring with 19 points.

Aaron Young stepped up for ORU in the final three minutes, knocking down a three from deep, cutting SDSU's lead to one point (67-66).

As the half progressed, the Jackrabbits went on to extend its lead. 

With 28.1 seconds left to play, Billbury hit a clutch three for ORU, cutting SDSU's lead to one once again. The Jackrabbits answered with a fast break dunk. Billbury then went back up court and knocked down another needed three (with 13.5 left).

Although Billbury turned it up, his efforts weren't enough to lead his team to a win, as ORU fell 76-72 at the buzzer.

Final Stats:

ORU

Field Goals: 26-63

3-Point Field Goals: 10-25

Free Throws: 10-21

Points In Paint: 18

Turnovers: 10

SDSU

Field Goals: 27-54

3-Point Field Goals: 4-11

Free Throws: 18-28

Points In Paint: 38

Turnovers: 12

Leading Scorers:

Emegano led ORU in scoring with 19 points; Billbury trailed behind him with 15.

SDSU's Larson led all-scorers with 27 points.

Up Next:

Oral Roberts returns to action Tuesday, January 27, to host Tabor in the Mabee Center at 7:00 p.m.

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