ORU seeks momentum - TW (12-4-2006)

[ORUTerry]

ORU seeks momentum

by MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer

12/4/2006

Scott Sutton saw signs of life at the end of a disappointing week for his Oral Roberts basketball team.

Sutton wants the Golden Eagles to build on the second half they played in Saturday's loss to Akron.

The Eagles faltered down the stretch, but not before rallying from a 14-point deficit to lead by four with five minutes left.

"I felt like we played with more toughness and more passion than we have since the KU game. That's how the game was meant to be played," Sutton said.

He hopes to see more of the same when Lamar of the Southland Conference visits Monday night.

Lamar (3-4) is a team in progress -- first-year coach Steve Roccaforte brought in five junior-college transfers to fill out a squad with only two seniors -- but also dangerous. The Cardinals made as many 3-pointers (12) in a 78-64 loss at Tulsa last Friday as ORU has made in its last four games.

Poor shooting (38 percent, 88-of-234) is one reason the Eagles have struggled to a 2-2 mark since upsetting third-ranked Kansas, 78-71, on Nov. 15. The Eagles barely won a home game with Louisiana-Lafayette and were abysmal in Tuesday's 75-57 loss at Tulsa.

But Sutton said a lack of effort is also a factor.

"The KU game may have made us think we're better than we are. . . . People are going to play harder against you because you've had a great win, and you have to be mature and tough enough to match your opponents' intensity. We haven't done that," Sutton said.

Not at least until Saturday's second half.

Getting fouled repeatedly, Caleb Green made 14-of-17 second-half foul shots and scored 20 of his game-high 32 points after intermission.

ORU won the second-half rebound battle 19-10 as Green and Marchello Vealy combined for 10 offensive boards.