Kansas City
5-9,1-4Summit League
Oral Roberts University
9-6,6-1Summit League
MBB Falls to ORU in Final Seconds
1/23/2021 9:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Arkel Lamar made an impact with nine points and four rebounds in his first game with the Roos
TULSA, Okla. - Brandon McKissic led the way with 20 points and Arkel Lamar made an impact with nine points and four rebounds in his first game in a Roo uniform, but Kansas City (5-9, 1-4) missed opportunities late and Oral Roberts (9-6, 6-1) came away with the 60-58 win.
"Credit Oral Roberts, they made the winning baskets down the stretch and we didn't," Head Coach Billy Donlon said.
The game was a defensive battle, favoring Kansas City. Both teams forced 10 first half turnovers, and the Roos shot 52% from the field to take a four-point advantage into the half. McKissic scored 14 of his 20 in the first period on 7-of-9 shooting from the field.
Kansas City came out firing in the second half, extending their lead to as many as 14 on a transition bucket by Jacob Johnson with 14 minutes remaining in the game. Slowly, the Golden Eagles began clawing their way back into the game by scoring at all levels of the floor. An ORU layup with just over eight minutes left in regulation knotted the score at 49-49, and the difference never surpassed three points for the rest of the game.
With 30 seconds remaining and the game tied at 58-58, Zion Williams drew a foul and stepped up to the free throw line. Neither of his shots would go, and ORU's RJ Glasper knocked down a floater with three seconds left to give the Golden Eagles the final advantage. McKissic got a clean look from three at the buzzer, but the shot was just short.]
"Our guys got layups and free throws late, and I'm proud of them for that," Donlon said. "Now, we just have to finish on those opportunities."
Kansas City will have another chance to take down Oral Roberts tomorrow at 7 p.m. on the ORU Sports Network.
