ORU men score win over CSU - Tulsa World (1-19-2007)

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ORU men score win over CSU

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by MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer

1/19/2007

Eagles rally from a six-point, second-half deficit for the victory.

The Oral Roberts basketball team won't be disappointed by Chicago State's absence from the Mid-Continent Conference tournament.

The Cougars had a chance to upset ORU in last year's Mid-Con final and did again Thursday night at the Mabee Center.

The Eagles had to rally from a six-point, second-half deficit to pull out a 59-53 win, extending their season-best winning streak to six games.

Four ORU players scored in double figures to offset a game-high 18 points by Chicago State's 5-foot-8 junior David Holston, who scored 16 first-half points.

Ken Tutt hit 4-of-4 foul shots in the final 29 seconds and led the Eagles with 16 points. Caleb Green had 14, scoring in double digits for the 48th straight game, and Moses Ehambe and Shawn King had 11 each.

The 6-10 King tied a career high with six blocked shots and had 11 rebounds, notching his second Division I double-double and the second in as many games.

ORU (12-7) extended its all-time record against Chicago State to 18-2, including 10-0 at the Mabee Center. The Eagles resume conference action Saturday at Centenary.

Chicago State, which dropped out of the Mid-Con in April, has played all but four games on the road. They fell to 7-15 overall and 5-13 on the road.

"It wasn't pretty, but we'll take it," said Tutt. "Sometimes you have to win in different situations."

Hardly anyone plays like CSU anymore. The Cougars milk every possession and spread the floor, giving their guards (Holston and 5-9 senior Royce Parran) room to make plays.

For most of the first 30 minutes, Holston and Parran dished to open teammates and the Cougars controlled the game, leading by as many as six points in each half.

"I don't think anybody around the country wants to see those guys," Green said. "You have to give them credit, especially (Holston and Parran). When they get going, they can play with anybody."

When CSU missed, it snagged offensive rebounds -- 15 overall and 11 in the first half -- allowing them to reset the shot clock repeatedly and run the process all over again. Kourtney Calvin led the Cougars with 12 rebounds, including four on the offensive glass.

The Cougars also forced 14 turnovers and 11 steals.

"I'm glad it's over. They're a hard team to play," said ORU coach Scott Sutton.

For much of the game, the Cougars looked right at home.

Holston scored 16 first-half points and the Cougars led 32-28 at halftime. One of the nation's top 3-point shooters, Holston made his first three from beyond the arc and also made three straight foul shots after being fouled behind the 3-point line by ORU's Kelvin Sango.

King scored five of ORU's first nine points, all coming in a 9-0 run that gave ORU its largest lead of the first half at 11-5. Chicago State responded with a 21-9 burst and led 26-20 with 8:11 left in the first half.

From there, ORU never led until Ehambe's trey with 9:43 left, pushing the Eagles in front 44-43. Tutt followed with a 3-pointer and it was 47-43.

ORU never trailed from there, but CSU tied it on Cantrell's jumper with 5:32 left.

Green scored six of the next eight points and Tutt hit a jumper to make it 55-47. ORU seemed safe after Green's three-point play with 1:57 left, but Chicago State kept fighting.

The Cougars cut the lead to four with 1:25 left and again with 22 seconds left on baskets by Cantrell and Parran, respectively. After Parran's layup, Tutt was surrounded in the backcourt and had to call for a timeout with 17 seconds left.

After play restarted, Holston stole the ball from Tutt and CSU still had a chance, but Holston dribbled on the baseline. ORU gained possession. Tutt made two free throws to make the final score 59-53.

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Mike Brown 581-8390

mike.brown@tulsaworld.com