Oral Roberts Dominates Paint, Wins by 20

Originally Published: Feb 25, 2010 11:55 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

CEDAR CITY, Utah – Oral Roberts dominated under the basket and used high-percentage shots to beat Southern Utah 85-65 Thursday.

The Golden Eagles (18-12, 12-5) outrebounded Southern Utah 42-26, and forwards Michael Craion and Thomas Ford combined to score 43 points – most of which came in the paint – and pull down 22 rebounds. Both players recorded double-doubles, and their control inside helped ORU shoot 57 percent from the field.

Oral Roberts made a total of 13 more shots than Southern Utah (6-22, 2-15), which got almost no second-chance points. SU’s leading scorer was Ryan Brimley, who came off the bench. He finished with 18, and Davis Baker scored 11. Three of Southern Utah’s starters combined to shoot 2-of-14 from the field, and the Thunderbirds as a team shot 39 percent.

Four of the Golden Eagles’ starters scored 14 or more points, with Craion leading the way with 23. Ford scored 18, and Dominique Morrison and Warren Niles each added 14 apiece.

ORU has now won its last four games and will finish the season on the road against Missouri-Kansas City at 7 p.m. Saturday.