The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 82 – South Dakota 73
Record: ORU (7-5, 1-0) - USD (7-5, 0-1)
Location: Vermillion, S.D. (Sanford Coyote Sports Center)
 
VERMILLION, S.D. – The Oral Roberts men's basketball team defeated South Dakota, 82-73, to open Summit League play Monday evening in Vermillion, South Dakota.
 
The Golden Eagles launched the 2021-22 Summit League campaign with their first win in Vermillion, South Dakota, since February 10, 2019. Max Abmas again showed the league why he is the defending and preseason player of the year with a 32 point showing. Abmas shot 50 percent overall and from the three-point line in 40 minutes of play in Monday's battle.  
 
In the first half, ORU started 1-for-6 from the field, the Golden Eagles then went 16 for their next 21. ORU was up by five with 8:22 left in the first half when Trey Phipps and Issac McBride hit back-to-back three-point shots to extend the lead to 11. South Dakota would cut the lead back to five before ORU would regain the 11 point advantage, 46-35, at the break. Abmas led with 22 points in the opening 20 minutes.
 
After ORU went up by 13 early in the second, South Dakota went on a 16-4 run over the next 4:55. The Golden Eagles never gave up the lead, despite USD cutting it to a one point game twice. Sir Issac Herron put on a show with seven minutes to play with a dunk on an inbound by Abmas to pick up the momentum. Down the stretch, ORU maintained its cushion and Abmas solidified the first league win for ORU with a dagger three with 50 seconds to play.
 
Off the bench, McBride and Trey Phipps combined for 29 points. McBride went 60 percent from the field for 16 points and Phipps scored 13 going 5-for-7 overall. For the second time this season, the Golden Eagles shot 50-plus percent from the field. To open Summit League play, ORU has started on the road in nine of the last 10 seasons, while in the league. The Golden Eagles have now won on the road to open the league slate in back-to-back seasons.
 
 
Turning Point
After South Dakota made it a one point game in the second half, Kareem Thompson hit a jumper in the paint to extend the lead to three. Thompson then hit his lone three-point shot of the game in the next possession to give ORU a six point advantage with 10:29 to play.

Individual Leaders
Oral Roberts: Abmas had his second 30-plus point game of the season scoring 32. Francis Lacis led ORU in rebounding with five.

South Dakota: Kruz Perrott-Hunt captured 21 points. Tasos Kamateros scored 20 points with seven boards. Hunter Goodrick also grabbed seven rebounds.

Inside the Box Score
- The Golden Eagles scored 38 points in the paint. ORU's impressive bench production secured 33 points.
 
- ORU shot an impressive 53.4 percent from the field and 42.3 percent from beyond the arc.
 
- South Dakota was blocked by ORU six times, but the Coyotes never managed to record a block.
 
- The Golden Eagles defense held the Coyotes to 4-for-18 for 22.2 percent from the three-point line.
 
News and Notes
- For the ninth time in his career, Abmas scored 30-plus points.
 
- ORU shot 90 percent, 9-for-10, from the free-throw line. It was the second time this season the Golden Eagles shot 90-plus percent from the charity stripe.
 
- ORU has made 10-plus three-point buckets in 10 of its last 12 games.

Up Next
The Golden Eagles will face South Dakota State Wednesday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. in Brookings, South Dakota.

For the latest information on ORU Men's Basketball, follow the Golden Eagles on Twitter and Instagram, or go to www.ORUAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the ORU Athletics app from the App Store or Google Play Store.