Golden Eagles fall to Arkansas - TW (12-23-2006)

[ORUTerry]

Golden Eagles fall to Arkansas

by MATT DOYLE World Sports Writer

12/23/2006

Golden Eagles lead at halftime but Hogs clamp down for the victory.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Caleb Green and Ken Tutt did their part. The problem was that their Oral Roberts University teammates did not help shoulder some of the offensive load.

Friday night against Arkansas, that proved to be costly.

Arkansas' stingy defense did not allow ORU to develop any offensive rhythm, particularly in the second half of its 68-56 victory before 14,338 fans at Bud Walton Arena.

"In the second half we didn't overcome the adversity we were faced with, and that's something you have to do on the road," said Green.

ORU led 26-24 at halftime. But the Golden Eagles (5-6) missed 24 of their 33 second-half shots as the Razorbacks (9-3) roared ahead. Green had a team-best 23 points and Tutt added 15. The two seniors combined to make 15 shots. But the rest of the Golden Eagles made just five shots and tallied 18 points.

ORU finished the night shooting 20-of-58. The 34.5-percent shooting figure was ORU's second lowest of the season.

"Green was hard to deal with and Tutt as well. They are definitely good players," Arkansas coach Stan Heath said. "Once we picked up the defense, intensity and energy, we are a totally different team. In the second, we played the way we needed to play."

Arkansas' ability to increase its defensive tenacity in the second half was due in part to ORU missing its floor leader. Junior starting point guard Adam Liberty was saddled with foul trouble throughout the 17 minutes he played.

Liberty fouled out with 6:29 remaining with ORU down 53-47. With no true backup point guard, ORU's offense stagnated.

"It's hard when your point guard is sitting on the bench in foul trouble," ORU coach Scott Sutton said. "They did a nice job keeping us off-balance in the second half with some fullcourt pressure. We did a good job of limiting our turnovers, but they didn't allow us to get into any rhythm. They had more energy."

Tutt handled the point guard duties in Liberty's absence. But the senior went scoreless in the final 10:54.

That brought another concern of Sutton's to the forefront. The Golden Eagles are still seeking a consistent third scoring option to complement Green and Tutt.

Sophomore Marchello Vealy had seven points, five of which came in the final three minutes.

"We need somebody to step up to take pressure off Ken and Caleb," Sutton said.

Said Tutt: "When Adam goes out of the game, that hurts us offensively. I have to run the point, that kind of takes me out of my game because I'm the one that has to get everybody in position to get good shots."

After Liberty fouled out, Arkansas freshman guard Patrick Beverly scored seven of his game-high 25 points over the next three minutes to cap an 8-0 spurt to boost the Razorback lead to 61-47.