Kansas City
Oral Roberts
'Roos Drop Heartbreaker To Oral Roberts, 69-64, In Overtime
1/15/2011 8:06:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Tulsa, Okla. -- The UMKC men's basketball team (10-8, 3-4) dropped a heartbreaking contest in overtime, 69-63, to Oral Roberts (8-12, 5-3) on Saturday night at the Mabee Center. The 'Roos held a two point lead with .7 seconds left in regulation, before a full court pass and layup from Oral Roberts sent the game to overtime.
Senior Jay Couisnard finished with a game-high 20 points, three steals, three rebounds, two assists and a block, while playing only three minutes in the first half. Spencer Johnson was the only other UMKC player in double figures, finishing with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Reggie Chamberlain had nine points, eight rebounds, two steals and an assist.
On the game's first possession, Lewis buried a three, opening a 7-2 run for the 'Roos over the games first 7:08.
After an ORU, field goal stopped the 'Roos' initial run, UMKC would reel off the next eight points to take a 15-4 lead with 9:04 left to play in the first half.
Oral Roberts would then pull to within eight, but the 'Roos would answer with a 13-5 run, capped by a pair of Johnson free throws, to extend their lead to 15, the largest of the half, before taking a 30-17 lead into the break.
In the first, the 'Roos limited the Golden Eagles to just 19 percent shooting (4-21), including 0-for-4 from three-point range, while forcing 10 ORU turnovers. Johnson led the 'Roos with 10 first half points and six rebounds, while Lewis finished with nine. Leading scorer Jay Couisnard, meanwhile, played only three minutes after picking up two quick fouls.
Coming out of the break, the 'Roos would open up a 35-17 lead after scoring the first five points of the second.
Oral Roberts would then close the margin to 12 at 43-31, but Couisnard would drain a three with 9:53 to push the lead back 15 for the 'Roos.
Dustin Dibble would then answer a Golden Eagle three-point field goal with his second three-pointer of the year, extending the UMKC lead to 49-34 with 7:38 remaining in the game.
An 8-2 run by ORU would trim the UMKC lead to 51-42 with 5:01 left, but a driving layup by Couisnard would end the rally and put the lead back in double figures at 11 with 3:27 left to play.
Oral Roberts would then use a 10-0 run to close to within one with 1:42 left, before a Spencer Johnson free throw stopped the run.
ORU would then tie the game at 54 on a pair of free throws from Damen Bell-Holter, giving the 'Roos one last possession in regulation with 18 seconds remaining.
With three seconds left, Couisnard would drive the lane and score a layup, giving the 'Roos the lead with .7 seconds on the clock.
ORU was not done though, as Bell-Holter would catch a full court pass and make a turnaround jumper near the basket to force overtime.
In overtime, Couisnard would get the first two points, but five straight from the Golden Eagles would give them their first lead of the game at 61-58.
Oral Roberts would go on to extend their lead to as many as nine, before getting the win by the 69-63 final.
In the game, the 'Roos forced 18 turnovers, including 11 steals, while out-shooting ORU 40.7 percent to 38.6 percent.
UMKC will return to action on Thursday when they welcome in IUPUI to the Swinney Recreation Center for a 7:05 p.m. tip-off.
