The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 63 – South Dakota State 79
Record: ORU (12-19), (5-11) – South Dakota State (20-12), (12-4)
Location: PREMIER Center (Sioux Falls, South Dakota)
 
SIOUX FALLS - The Oral Roberts men's basketball team jumped out to a 10 point lead in the early going, but a 24-0 South Dakota State run to close the first half helped the Jackrabbits knock off the Golden Eagles in the quarterfinals.
 
Issac McBride, Jailen Bedford, and DeShang Weaver helped spark a 16-2 run in the opening minutes to help ORU hold a 10 point advantage, forcing a SDSU timeout. The Jackrabbits responded with a 5-0 burst of their own before the under 12 timeout. ORU held 21-14 lead with 10:21 remaining before SDSU strung together a 24-0 run to close out the half. As a team, the Jackrabbits missed just two shots in the 10 minute span. Mayo led the way for scoring nine points on 4-of-4 shooting during the run. ORU entered the locker room down 38-21 at the break.
 
The Golden Eagles came out firing in the second half and outscored SDSU 14-8 before the first media timeout. A Bedford floater in the paint cut the deficit to single digits for ORU. Kareem Thompson knocked down a quick trigger three to make it a six point game at the under 12 timeout. The Jackrabbits maintained their composure, however, and responded with a 7-2 run to hold an 11 point advantage at the under eight stoppage. McBride willed ORU back within single digits after draining back-to-back threes, but Mayo and SDSU wouldn't be denied. The Jackrabbits shot a perfect 10-of-10 from the foul stripe over the final 6:11 as they pulled away and knocked off the Golden Eagles, 79-63, in the Summit League Quarterfinals.
 
McBride scored a game-high 20 points and Thompson grabbed a team-high seven rebounds to go along with four assists.
 
South Dakota State was led by 18 points from Luke Appel as five Jackrabbits reached double-digit scoring.