ORU tops IUPUI in OT
BY MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer
Thursday, February 09, 2012
Rod Pearson’s double-pump running shot from the right side as time expired gave Oral Roberts a heart-stopping 76-74 overtime win over IUPUI in Summit League play before 3,495 at the Mabee Center on Thursday night.
Pearson’s shot atoned for his turnover moments earlier with ORU nursing a one-point lead, giving the Jaguars a chance to win the game.
IUPUI’s Ian Chiles made a tying free throw with 21 seconds left, but his second shot rattled out. ORU’s Damen Bell-Holter rebounded and the Eagles, rather than calling timeout, played for the final shot.
With time running out, Pearson started down the right side and left his feet, trying to shoot over IUPUI’s Chiles. But he had to pull the ball back in and put it up again after Alex Young came across waving his arms in Pearson’s face.
Pearson’s shot hit inside the rim on the left side, bounced against the glass and dropped through as time ran out.
Officials checked the monitor before ruling the shot was good and the game was over.
ORU improved to 22-5 overall and 14-1 in league play, stretching its lead over second-place South Dakota State to 2 1/2 games, when the Jacks lost at cross-state rival South Dakota 72-68.
The Eagles can clinch a tie for the regular-season conference title when they host Western Illinois on Saturday night. They also stretched their home winning streak to 21 games, dating to last season.
Young scored a game-high 34 points, hitting 6-for-9 from 3-point range, to pace the Jaguars (10-16, 4-10).
Dominique Morrison scored 23 to lead four ORU players in double figures. Steven Roundtree, Michael Craion and Warren Niles each scored 11.
