Eagles keep streak (TW)

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Eagles keep streak

by MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer

2/11/2007

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ORU cruises to 10th straight over T-birds.

This was one blowout that Oral Roberts didn't turn back into a close game.

The Golden Eagles exploded after a disallowed Southern Utah 3-pointer early in the second half, and rolled to a 79-57 homecoming win Saturday before a season-best crowd of 8,172 at the Mabee Center.

Caleb Green had 21 points and 12 rebounds, notching his 60th career double-double, as the Eagles retained their 1 1/2 game Mid-Continent Conference lead over Oakland (Mich.), which downed Valparaiso 64-61.

ORU had trouble finishing its previous three games and lost at Valpo after blowing a nine-point lead in the final 1:57 of regulation.

But this time, the Eagles led by as many as 28 points in the second half and ended the game with reserves on the floor.

"One time we had them down 20, went back in the huddle and said, 'What are we going to do now -- let them back in the game or put the hammer down?'," Green said. "We played extra hard and got the extra leeway we needed. That was a great crowd tonight and we didn't want them to be disappointed."

Were the Eagles inspired by a pre-game locker room chat with ORU president Richard Roberts?

"David had the spirit of a finisher when he faced Goliath with a slingshot," Roberts said. "The stone didn't kill (Goliath), it just knocked him down, so David took Goliath's sword and cut his head off."

Green also became the Mid-Cons No. 2 all-time scorer with 2,322 points. He passed Mike Helms of Oakland (Mich.), who scored 2,314 points from 2000-04. He needs 167 points to pass Michael Watson of UMKC, who scored 2,488 points from 2000-04.

Moses Ehambe chipped in 16 points and tied a career high by making five 3-pointers. Shawn King and Adam Liberty added 10 each as ORU beat Southern Utah for the 10th straight time.

The game was close until early in the second half when Southern's Justin Allen missed the rim on a 3-point attempt with time running out on the shot clock. Nurudeen Adepoju snagged the rebound under the basket, dribbled back out to 3-point range and drained a trey, but after the shot clock had expired. Officials seemed ready to count the basket until Sutton protested, along with many in the crowd. Referee Jerry Sauder checked with the scorers' table and waved off the shot.

ORU scored the next six points and 22 of the next 26, building a 64-42 lead with 10:24 left.