TULSA, Okla., Jan. 24 ? Oral Roberts held Southern Utah to its lowest point total of the season Saturday night to send the Thunderbirds to their second loss in their two-game road trip, 67-51.
    The Golden Eagles built a 33-18 lead with 2:10 to go in the first half, shooting 52 percent (13-of-25) while holding SUU to 25 percent (6-of-24), but SUU outscored ORU 6-1 in the final two minutes of the period to pull within 34-24 at the break.
    SUU hit just six field goals in the opening stanza but was able to convert 12-of-15 free throws to stay within striking distance.
    ORU pushed its lead back to 14 and led 44-30 five minutes into the second half but the Thunderbirds went on a 7-point run behind five points by Dave Marek and a dunk by Jaren Jeffrey to pull within 44-37 with 11:52 to play.
    SUU couldn't get any closer than seven, however, and after Tyler Quinney fouled out at the 9:39 mark the Golden Eagles slowly pulled away.
    Quinney led SUU with 12 points while Jeffrey scored a career-high 10, but they were the only Thunderbirds in double figures.
    Marcus Lewis paced ORU with 26 points, while Robert Jarvis added 16 and Kevin Ford finished with 10.
    “We played a good basketball team tonight and when you get down against a good team, especially on the road, it makes it hard to win,” SUU Coach Roger Reid said. “They have some big strong players inside and were able to get a lot of points in the paint. We got pushed around in there a little bit and weren't able to assert ourselves.
    “I did think Jarren did a good job tonight, we needed a boost after Tyler fouled out and he did a good job,” Reid added. “I also thought we did a good job against their guards, but we didn't have an answer for their inside game.”
    SUU dropped to 4-5 in Summit League play and 6-14 overall with the loss while the Golden Eagles maintained a share of first place in the conference by improving to 8-1 in league play and 10-11 overall.

-- SUU --