Golden Eagles serve up scare in first tourney game - TW

[ORUTerry]

Golden Eagles serve up scare in first tourney game

By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist

3/5/2006

Oral Roberts won but left much to be desired in the first round of the Mid-Continent Conference Tournament.

Luckily, they don't give out any style points in basketball.

The Golden Eagles got a fabulous game from Ken Tutt, who rescued ORU in a dangerous opening game, as it escaped with 60-53 victory over Western Illinois on Saturday night at the Union Multipurpose Activity Center.

It was almost spooky how much this opening game of the 2006 tournament looked like the final game of the 2005 tournament.

"Last year, we had our bad game on championship night," said ORU coach Scott Sutton. "Hopefully, we've got our bad game out of the way. Hopefully, we'll now play two great games."

A year ago, top-seeded Oral Roberts had trouble knocking down shots, got hammered on the interior and Oakland hit a game-winner at the buzzer to deprive ORU a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

This game was a little different. Western Illinois was never in a position to hit a game-winner in the final minute.

In the first 11 minutes of the game, ORU hit just three of 16 shots -- a layup, dunk and off a rebound.

"I thought we started pressing a little bit," Sutton said. "We shot shots we normally make. Plus, we were not doing a good job of getting the ball into Caleb (Green).

"We just missed a lot of shots we normally make."

The victory, not exactly secure until the final seconds, got top-seeded ORU where it needs to be -- a Monday night semifinal.

Tutt's 29 points were enough to overcome a scoreless first half by Green, the Mid-Con Conference Player of the Year. Green, double- and triple-teamed most of the night, finally got going in the second half to get 14 points and 14 rebounds.

"It was a grinder," Sutton said. "It was a tough, tough game. It is the kind of game that can help you."

Still, on a night the Eagles were banged around inside, Oral Roberts needed every last bucket. Western Illinois got to within four points twice in the final minute.

Tutt, who missed 10 games with an injury, was never better down the stretch. In the final minute, he hit all six of his free throws.

"I really didn't notice it (the bad shooting start by the Eagles)," Tutt said. "I just let the game come to me. We weren't shooting it very well as a team.

"That's the way it is sometimes. You've got to step up your game."

Although Western Illinois came into the game as the eighth seed, and just 3-13 on the conference season, it was one of the tougher matchups for Oral Roberts. ORU lost by five at WIU just a month ago.

Western Illinois is long and talented on the interior, just the type of team that can give ORU trouble. The Golden Eagles, the top rebounding team in the Mid-Con, were outrebounded 47-43. Most damaging was the 22 offensive rebounds Western Illinois grabbed. It was getting plenty of second and third chances. On one possession, WIU got four straight offensive rebounds before scoring.

"It was the most rebounds we've given up all year," Sutton said. "We didn't get after it like I thought we would.

"They've got great athletes. I was shocked (they didn't win more games this year)."

The Golden Eagles can't afford any games similar to this opening victory if they hope to reach the NCAA Tournament.

ORU just needs to relax. There's no reason to panic. All it has to do is what it has done all year.

If Oral Roberts hits shots, making people come off Green in the interior, then it will be difficult to beat.

"The first game is the hardest," Sutton said. "We haven't been in this gym since last year except for 27 minutes this morning. We're thankful for the day off. Our guys are a little fatigued and banged up."

Plus, Oral Roberts could not have suffered through a worse start. It was a frightening reminder of what can happen when you go cold, don't hit shots and all the calls seem to go against you.

The first 11 minutes were awful. The Eagles managed just three field goals during that period. They missed 13 other shots, almost all of them short jumpers.

If Oral Roberts was looking for a quick start, to erase the memory of last year's nightmare in the finals, the exact opposite happened.

"It had nothing to do with feeling pressure," said Green. "Western Illinois played pretty good. The first game is always hard."

But ORU did enough, and the Golden Eagles live to play again.