Montana stomps Eagles - TW (2-19-06)

[ORUTerry]

Montana stomps Eagles

By Staff Reports

2/19/2006

MISSOULA, Mont. -- Oral Roberts had one day to prepare for Saturday's BracketBusters showdown at the University of Montana.

That wasn't nearly enough against the smooth-running Grizzlies, ORU coach Scott Sutton said.

The nation's seventh-best shooting team made its first six shots of the second half and made 52.6 percent overall, coasting to an 88-74 win Saturday over the Golden Eagles in Dahlberg Arena.

The Grizzlies led by as many as 13 points in the first half and outscored the Eagles 24-4 after ORU had rallied to tie the game at 42 early in the second half.

"They're a very good offensive team. They run a lot of sets and execute very well. It's impossible to get ready for all the things they do in 24 hours," Sutton said.

The Grizzlies peppered the Eagles inside and out, while ORU often struggled to make a basket. The Eagles shot only 36.2 percent (25-of-69), their lowest in 10 games.

"That combination's not going to win very many games against good teams," Sutton said. "We just didn't play very well and give Montana credit. They are a very good offensive team. They don't put a bad offensive player on the floor and I think they proved that today."

Junior forward Matt Dlouhy made 4-of-5 shots from 3-point range and scored a career-high 21 points to lead five Grizzlies in double figures.

Caleb Green scored 28 points and notched his 12th double-double of the season with 11 rebounds, but no other ORU player scored in double figures.

It didn't help ORU's cause that senior forward Larry Owens was held to three points, tying a season low, on 1-of-5 shooting. Owens had scored in double digits 12 of his last 13 games.

Moses Ehambe and Chris Riouse had three treys each for the Eagles and Ken Tutt made two, his first baskets since injuring his right foot on Jan. 7 and missing 10 games.

Montana, the second-place team in the Big Sky Conference, improved to 19-5 overall while beating ORU for the first time in five meetings between the schools. ORU (16-11) resumes Mid-Continent action Thursday at Centenary and ends the regular season hosting Valparaiso next Saturday.

The Eagles flew all day Friday after Thursday's home win over Missouri-Kansas City. Montana coach Larry Krystkowiak said fatigue might have gotten the best of ORU in the second half.

Fatigue or not, Sutton was disappointed with his team's defense.

After holding five straight foes under 60 points, the Eagles have allowed 80, 79 and 88 in the past three games.

ORU has locked up the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament, which starts March 4 at the Union Multipurpose Activity Center.