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The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 87 – Western Illinois 86
Record: ORU (11-6, 5-1) - WIU (10-6, 1-3)
Location: Macomb, Ill. (Western Hall)
 
MACOMB, ILL. – Elijah Lufile captured a career high 18 points in the Oral Roberts men's basketball team's 87-86 win Saturday afternoon at Western Illinois to improve to 5-1 in Summit League play.
 
The Golden Eagles had four score in double-figures in what was the fourth-straight win for ORU. Max Abmas led all scorers with 32, Lufile had 18, Issac McBride captured 15 and DeShang Weaver tallied 11 in what was ORU's fifth-consecutive win over Western Illinois. The Golden Eagles had 16 assists on 32 made baskets and improved to 3-1 on the road in Summit League play.
 
A fast start gave Western Illinois an early advantage in Saturday's game. WIU went on a 9-0, 12-2 run to take a 15 point lead, eight minutes in. ORU then sparked a 10-2 run of their own to cut the deficit as the Golden Eagles out-scored the Leathernecks 33-17 to close out the first half. A free-throw by Abmas tied the game, 44-44, with 57 seconds to play. He then hit the following foul shot to give ORU its first lead, 45-44. Lufile went 5-for-5 in the first half and hit a pair of free-throws for 12 points. Abmas 18 first half points as the Golden Eagles shot 39 percent from the field.
 
ORU went on a 10-2 second half run to go up by nine with 8:30 to play. The Leathernecks wouldn't go away as WIU went on a 7-0 run of their own to pull to within two. With seven minutes left, McBride broke the Leatherneck run to give ORU a five point lead. WIU managed to tie the game, 81-81, with 2:49 to play. McBride knocked down a pair of free-throws to regain a four-point lead with 1:20 play. After cutting it to one, it came down to the final possession for the Leathernecks as Luka Barisic missed a 15 point corner jumper at the buzzer to give ORU the 87-86 victory.
 
Abmas put on a show Saturday afternoon as the junior scored 32 points in what was his second-straight 30-plus point outing. In the past two games, he's scored 70 points and has gone 21-for-37 from the field. He also had a career high 11 assists for his first double-double of the season and second of his career. The Leathernecks had all five starts score double-digits in the game as WIU went 9-for-26 from the three-point line.
 
Turning Point
After going back and forth in the second half, McBride hit a three-point bucket to break a WIU comeback run. He then knocked down a pair of free-throws to lift ORU back up by four with 1:20 to play.     

Individual Leaders
Oral Roberts: Abmas had 32 points on the night along with a career high 11 assists for his second career double-double. Francis Lacis grabbed six rebounds.

Western Illinois: Tamell Pearson had a double-double with 21 points and 11 boards.

Inside the Box Score
- The Golden Eagles scored 42 points in the paint. ORU's bench production secured 27 points.
 
- ORU 48.5 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from beyond the arc.
 
- Western Illinois shot 40.6 percent overall and 34.6 percent from long range.
 
- ORU was out-rebounded by WIU, 43-35. The Leathernecks had 12 offensive boards.
 
News and Notes
- For his 13th consecutive game, Abmas had 10-plus points. He has now scored 20-plus points in four-consecutive outings. It was his 10th 20-plus point game of the season and fourth 30-plus point night.
 
- Abmas' 32 points and 11 assists was the team's first double-double of the season.
 
- Lufile had a career high 18 points and went 8-for-8 from the field along with two blocks.
 
- It was the first time in six games ORU did not score 10-plus three-pointers in a game. ORU has made 10-plus three-point buckets in 14 of its last 17 games.

Up Next
The Golden Eagles will hit the road to face the Kansas City Roos Saturday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. in Kansas City, Missouri.

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.