Turnovers spell loss for Sutton, ORU - TW (1-1-2006)

[ORUTerry]

Turnovers spell loss for Sutton, ORU

By Staff Reports

1/1/2006

Confidence not as apparent as Eagles' coach expected.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Oral Roberts University basketball coach Scott Sutton came into Saturday's game at Minnesota encouraged by his team's recent performances.

Despite losses at Utah State and No. 14 Oklahoma, Sutton felt the last three halves of basketball the Golden Eagles played gave his team a boost of confidence.

But confidence, particularly on the offensive end, was not readily apparent against the Gophers. The Golden Eagles shot a season-low 33.3 percent and committed a season-high 24 turnovers in a 67-54 loss.

"It's frustrating because we had shot the ball better of late. But we still continue to turn the ball over," Sutton said. "We've stressed (taking care of the ball) more than anything. So to come out tonight and turn the ball over 24 times is frustrating."

ORU's previous high turnover game this year was 19 against Monmouth and Tulsa. Facing double-team trapping defenses, junior forward Caleb Green was forced into a team-high eight turnovers.

"You are going to have turnovers in the game of basketball, and I can live with that," Sutton said. "Caleb is going to have a few turnovers because of the double teams.

"But we have a bunch where we have guys trying to hit a home run when we need to hit a single. We need to make the simple play or make the simple pass. Right now, our guys aren't doing that."

If it was not for Green, ORU (5-7) would have endured a difficult afternoon offensively. Green was brilliant again. He scored a game-high 24 points and 15 rebounds for his fourth consecutive double-double, his seventh of the season and 38th career.

Green was the lone Eagle to reach double figures in scoring. Senior center Mickey Michalec matched his season average with eight points.

But junior guard Ken Tutt (six points) and senior forward Larry Owens (three points) were held 10 and seven points under their season averages.

Without Green's 9-of-16 shooting performance, the rest of the Golden Eagles shot 12-of-47 from the field.

Still, the Golden Eagles were able to hang close to the Gophers (9-2) most of the afternoon.

Sophomore reserve guard Moses Ehambe hit a 3-pointer with 10:35 left and Green connected on a layup at the 9:58 mark to pull ORU within 43-39.

Minnesota used a 7-2 spurt over the next 2:46 to increase its lead to 50-41.

But another 3-pointer from Ehambe and a putback by Green narrowed ORU's deficit to 52-46 with 5:44 to play.

That was as close as ORU would get.

Maurice Hargrow, who had 23 points to pace Minnesota, drained 3-pointers with 5:28 and 3:45 remaining to increase the Gophers advantage to 60-48.

Vincent Grier had 16 points and seven rebounds and Adam Boone added seven assists.