Expect A Miracle! ORU Stuns Ohio State In NCAA Tourney, 1st Tourney Win Since 1974

In a stunning upset, the Golden Eagles of ORU beat No. 2 seeded Ohio State Buckeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament, 75-72.

This is ORU's first tournament appearance since 2008 and their first win in the tournament since 1974.

Oral Roberts became just the ninth No. 15 seed to ever beat a No. 2 seed in an NCAA Tournament game on Friday, when the Eagles shocked Ohio State 75-72 for the program's first victory in the Big Dance since 1974. Max Abmas entered as the nation's leading scorer and scored 29 points for ORU, which advances to play No. 7 seed Florida on Sunday in a second round game.

The game went to overtime, but Abmas and teammate Kevin Obanor helped dominate the extra period despite never getting a rest during the game's 45 minutes. Obanor finished with 30 as he and Abmas combined to score all but 16 of Oral Roberts points in the game.

It's the first time since 2016 that a No. 15 seed has defeated a No. 2, although the outcome has become more common over the past decade. Dating back to 2012, it has now happened five times over the past nine NCAA Tournaments with Middle Tennessee's victory over Michigan State in 2016 being the last.

Congratulations poured in from around Oklahoma for the Golden Eagles' historic victory.

Governor Kevin Stitt tweeted his congratulations to the team on their big win and for busting the country's brackets, but Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell, an ORU graduate himself, claims his bracket is still in perfect shape.

The Tulsa Drillers displayed their victory on the big screen at OneOK field Friday afternoon.

News On 6's LeeAnne Taylor showed off her Golden Eagle pride as well.

Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum was thrilled for the Golden Eagles, and quoted one of Oral Roberts' famous sayings: "expect a miracle."