Despite Second Half Comeback, Akron Outlasts ORU

The Golden Eagles battled back but it wasn’t enough to overtake Akron on the road.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:07 pm

By: News On 6

Despite Second Half Comeback, Akron Outlasts ORU

Originally Published: Jan 3, 2011 8:35 PM CDT

Layna Dewell
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

AKRON, Ohio—Oral Roberts battled back from a ten point halftime deficit, but it wasn’t enough to overtake the Akron Zips who beat the Golden Eagles 84-80.

ORU (5-11) was without forward Dominique Morrison who tore his lateral meniscus during practice on New Year’s Day and will be out for up to three weeks.

At the half ORU was down 39-49, but they used the second half to chip away at the Zips lead, and eventually cut the lead to six with just over four minutes remaining.

Ken Holdman’s layup made it a one point game at 81-80, but two quick fouls by ORU in the final four seconds gave Akron’s Darryl Roberts and Nikola Cvetinovic free throw opportunities which put away the game for the Zips.

Damen Bell-Holter paced the Golden Eagles in scoring with 27 and seven rebounds.

Akron finished with six players in double figures and was paced by Nikola Cvetinovic who totaled 17 points and six rebounds on the night.

The most unusual thing about this game was the stat line. From the field ORU outshot the Zips 59 percent to 46 percent, and outrebounded 36-14. On the flip side Akron had 11 steals to ORU’s three and while Oral Roberts turned the ball over 21 times, Akron had a mere six turnovers on the night.

ORU returns to the hardwood for the second of a three game road trip Thursday at 7 p.m. against North Dakota State.