TULSA, Okla. - Oral Roberts shot a blistering 69 percent and built a double-digit lead before coasting to a 86-76 win over IUPUI at the Mabee Center on Saturday night. IUPUI sophomore George Hill scored a game-high 26 points and snared eight rebounds in the loss.
The loss snapped IUPUI's four-game winning streak.
"We accomplished our mission, which was to get a split on this road trip and leave here in first place," IUPUI head coach Ron Hunter said. "Our guys got a little greedy and wanted to come out of here at 5-0, but we knew we weren't going to go undefeated in the league.
"Our guys fought until the end, which is a sign of a veteran team. I'm proud of our guys, we just can't get down like we did tonight."
Oral Roberts (9-8, 3-1) built a 16-point first half lead at 40-24 behind the strong play of Larry Owens and an assortment of three-point shots. IUPUI (9-7, 3-1) was able to trim the advantage back to 43-32 at the break, despite ORU making 7-of-10 three-pointers in the first half.
ORU senior Chris Riouse made four first half threes to score 12 points in 10 minutes work.
The hosts hit 16-of-22 (72.7 percent) attempts in the opening 20 minutes, despite getting just four points from Mid-Con Preseason Player of the Year Caleb Green. After an extended halftime break, ORU opened with a 14-4 run in which Green provided six points to make it a 57-36 game.
The lead swelled as high as 22 before IUPUI's guard dominated lineup began chipping away late in the game. The Jags used full court pressure to fuel a 9-0 spurt that cut the lead back to 70-60 with 5:00 minutes left.
The Jags got within eight with 1:24 remaining when Brandon Cameron put back a Maushae Byles miss. ORU made all six of its free throw attempts down the stretch to seal the win.
Owens led four Golden Eagles in double-figures with 21 points and nine rebounds. Green added 18 while Jonathan Bluitt had 15 points and nine assists.
Senior Brandon Cole had 16 points, six rebounds and three steals while Cameron, making his first-ever start, added 15. Cole knocked down 2-of-5 from three-point range, becoming just the third player in school history to hit over 200 career threes in the process.
As a team, Oral Roberts hit 29-of-42 (69.0 percent) from the floor and 8-of-15 (53.3 percent) from long range. IUPUI hit 47.5 percent from the floor and 37.5 percent from three-point range.
The Jags connected on 14-of-17 (82.4 percent) at the foul line. IUPUI committed just eight turnovers, while forcing 12 miscues.
"We did a good job of handling their defense and getting the looks we wanted. We just didn't match their energy early and it cost us," Hunter said. "We've been able to climb back into some games this year, but against a good team like Oral Roberts, they can bury you and that's what they did tonight.
With both Green and 6-foot-11 center Mickey Michalec on the bench for portions of the second half with foul problems, Hunter opted to utilize a small lineup with Cole (6-foot-6) being the tallest Jag on the court.
"I thought we caused some problems with our full court press and they had a hard time matching up with our guards," Hunter said. "We learned a lot tonight and should be able to carry that over later in the season.
"Now we just need to get back home and take care of business."
IUPUI returns to Indianapolis to host a pair of Mid-Con games this week. The Jags will welcome Centenary to The Jungle on Thursday before hosting UMKC on Saturday night. Both games are scheduled to tip at 7:00 p.m. with the latter game being the back end of a doubleheader with the women's team.
Fans are urged to arrive early and dress in red. IUPUI students are admitted free of charge with a valid JagTag while general admission tickets can be purchased for $7.
