ORU draws Weber St.
BY JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Tuesday, February 05, 2013
2/05/13 at 5:58 AM
Oral Roberts University will play host to Weber State, one of the nation's best offensive teams, as part of the final ESPN BracketBusters college basketball event.
Weber State ranks fourth nationally in field goal percentage, fourth in 3-point percentage, 20th in scoring and 11th in average margin of victory.
The Wildcats (15-5 overall, 10-2 in the Big Sky Conference) will visit the Mabee Center at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23.
Per a BracketBusters agreement, ORU is expected to make a return trip next season to face Weber State in Ogden, Utah.
BracketBusters matchups for 122 participating teams were announced Monday. ORU hoped to land a spot in one of 13 BracketBusters games designated for broadcast on an ESPN network, but the Golden Eagles did not get a TV game.
As of Monday, ORU's RPI was 101. The two Southland Conference teams with better RPIs - Stephen F. Austin (82) and Northwestern State (99) - were rewarded with TV games and will go on the road to face Long Beach State and Niagara, respectively. The RPI of ORU's BracketBusters opponent is 136.
ORU and Weber State split four previous meetings and haven't met since 1991.
Tickets are available for the BracketBusters game and can be purchased online at www.ORUGoldenEagles.com or by calling 918-495-7546.
ORU beat Akron in a 2012 BracketBusters game.
ESPN announced earlier this season that the 2013 BracketBusters event will be the last, but a modified version could surface in the future. BracketBusters games showcase mid-major college basketball programs and give bubble teams a chance to secure attention-getting victories before the NCAA Tournament selection process begins.
Southland Conference BracketBusters Games
Stephen F. Austin at Long Beach State (ESPNU), Feb. 22, 8 p.m.
Northwestern State at Niagara (ESPN3), Feb. 23, 2 p.m.
Cal State Fullerton at A&M-Corpus Christi, Feb. 23, 1 p.m.
Weber State at Oral Roberts, Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m.
SIU-Edwardsville at Central Arkansas, Feb. 23, TBA
Texas State at Lamar, Feb. 23, TBA
McNeese State at Toledo, Feb. 23, TBA
Nicholls State at Texas-San Antonio, Feb. 23, TBA
Sam Houston State at Eastern Washington, Feb. 23, TBA
Southeastern Louisiana at Winthrop, Feb. 23, TBA
Jimmie Tramel 918-581-8389
jimmie.tramel@tulsaworld.com
