TULSA, Okla., Dec. 3 - For a few minutes it looked like Southern
Utah was going to break its seven-year drought against Oral Roberts, but it
wasn't to be as the Golden Eagles overcame an eight-point second half deficit
to post a 61-55 home win over SUU Saturday night.
Jackson Stevenett scored 20 points to lead three
Thunderbirds in double-figures, while Ray Jones had eight assists for SUU,
which saw its record even at 4-4 in its Summit League opener, while ORU
improved to 6-2 and 1-0.
SUU led 55-52 after Stevenett hit two free throws with 1:48
to play but Damon Bell-Holter scored on a short turnaround jumper to cut it to
55-54 with 1:37 to play.
Both teams stiffened on the defensive end but SUU's Jordan
Johnson was called for a personal foul with 25 seconds to play, sending Rod
Pearson to the free throw line in a one-and-one situation. Pearson obliged the
Thunderbirds, missing the free throw, but Bell-Holter grabbed the rebound and
slammed it home to give ORU a 56-55 advantage, its first lead since Stevenett
tied it at 37-37 with 14:01 to go.
Bell-Holter was fouled on the follow shot and hit the free
throw to stake the GoldenEagles to a 57-55 lead with 23.7 seconds to play.
On SUU's next trip down the floor Michael Craion strpped
Stevenett, who fouled Craion and was called for an internional foul, Craion hit
both free throws, then after ORU retained the ball Warren Niles was fould and
hit two free throws with three seconds to play.
"It's really disappointing for us," SUU assistant coach Ron
Carling said. "This is the best team in the league and we had them on the
ropes, we just couldn't finish it.
"We had a great effort, we're roud of the kids, proud of the
effort but we've got to learn how to finish games," Carling noted. "It came
down to one rebound, basically, if we get that rebound we have the lead and run
the clock. It wasn't because of the rebound but it's a good example of how it
went at the end."
Southern Utah scored the first five points and the game was
close through the first half, with the largest lead a 25-17 ORU advantage after
Michael Craion scored inside with 5:23 to go. SUU pulled back within 25-28 on a
Massey layup but Jake Lliteras hit a 3-pointer to give the Golden Eagles a
31-25 advantage at the half.
SUU shot .524 (11-21) in the first half and had seven
assists, four by Jones, but turned the ball over eight times. ORU shot just
.364 in the period (12-33) but held a 19-14 rebounding edge, including 11-3 on
the offensive glass.
Wade Collie finished with 12 points, five rebounds and four
assists while Massey added 11 points and five rebounds for the Thunderbirds.
Craion led ORU with 15 points while Bell-Holter finished
with 11 and 11 rebounds.
-- SUU --
