ORU Puts up Fight But Falls to Mizzou

The Golden Eagles led in the game before losing 81-62.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:06 pm

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Dec 17, 2010 2:21 PM CDT

Oklahoma Sports Staff

COLUMBIA, Missouri – ORU put up a decent fight, but in the end, No. 13 Missouri was simply way too much for the Golden Eagles in an 81-62 win.

Oral Roberts’ downfall was its shooting, for it shot only 26.5 percent on the game.

The Golden Eagles stayed in the game – and even led – early, with a pair of free throws from freshman Steven Roundtree giving ORU a 20-17 lead with seven minutes left in the first half.

But Missouri snapped out of it and went on a 20-4 run to end the first half and blow the game open.

The Golden Eagles made several runs in the second half, cutting the lead to 45-38 at one point and trailing by nine with just less than six minutes to play.

But the Tigers responded when they had to with runs of their own to close out the game with a 19-point margin.

Forward Dominique Morrison led ORU with 18 points, but sophomore center Damen Bell-Holter had the game of his young career, scoring 12 points and pulling down 17 boards.

The 17 rebounds were the most by an Oral Roberts player in nearly six years.

The Golden Eagles actually outrebounded Missouri 40-32, but their poor shooting and turnovers (19 in the game) doomed them.

ORU will face Miami (Fla.) at 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 21 at the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic.