Oral Roberts men looking at CIT berth
BY JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Saturday, March 16, 2013
3/16/13 at 5:58 AM
KATY, Texas - Oral Roberts lost in the quarterfinal round of the Southland Tournament, but the Golden Eagles' season likely isn't over.
"We're negotiating now with the CIT to play in their postseason tournament probably one day next week," ORU athletic director Mike Carter said Friday.
"I'm pretty certain that it's going to happen. I think it's a question of a home game or a road game, but they are very interested in us and contacted us last night and said we are one of their teams. So I'm confident this team will go play again."
The CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, or the CIT, is a 32-team event that is in its fifth season.
According to the tournament's website, the goal of the CIT is to choose participating teams from leagues other than the "power" conferences. Teams from 23 conferences participated in the 2012 CIT. Mercer beat Utah State in the title game.
ORU, 18-14, finished third in the Southland Conference during its first season as a member of the league. The Golden Eagles slumped to the finish line and their Thursday loss to Sam Houston State was a third defeat in their last four games.
ORU had hoped to make a three-game run through the tournament and reach the NCAA Tournament. With that option off the table, senior guard Warren Niles said he wanted to continue the season in another tournament.
Why? "To play another college game," he said. "I don't want to leave on that note."
ORU coach Scott Sutton said he would be excited about continuing the season.
"I hate how we ended these last few weeks," he said. "I think this team could still win some games. This team never did reach its potential. I don't know why. It has been a frustrating year all year. They have come so close to winning probably five or six more games and we haven't been able to do it. We would be excited about playing if the offer comes."
ORU played in the CIT in 2011 and lost a first-round game at SMU.
Men's Southland Conference Tournament results
At Leonard E. Merrell Center, Katy, Texas
Wednesday
McNeese State 62, Nicholls State 59
Sam Houston State 69, Central Arkansas 63
Thursday
SE Louisiana 85, McNeese State 65
Sam Houston State 58, Oral Roberts 55
Friday
S.F. Austin 68, Southeastern Louisiana 57
Northwestern St. 55, Sam Houston St. 52
Saturday
No. 2 Northwestern State vs. No. 1 Stephen F. Austin, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2-26
Original Print Headline: ORU men looking at CIT
Jimmie Tramel 918-581-8389
jimmie.tramel@tulsaworld.com
