Wednesday, November 13
7 p.m.
Tulsa
3-0,0-0AAC
85
vs
76
Oral Roberts
1-2,0-0Summit League
1
2
F
Oral Roberts
29
47
76
Tulsa
38
47
85
Golden Hurricane Takes Back Mayor’s Cup 85-76
11/14/2024 12:03:00 AM | Men's Basketball
TULSA, Okla. –– The Mayor's Cup is back at the University of Tulsa after the Golden Hurricane took down crosstown rivals ORU 85-76 in front of 3,906 fans in the Donald W. Reynolds Center on Wednesday evening.
With the win, Tulsa has started 3-0 in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2011-12 and 2012-13 campaigns. The win snapped a three-game losing streak against the Golden Eagles (1-2) and was TU's first win in the series since 2019 and first under head coach Eric Konkol. The Hurricane improves to 37-22 against Oral Roberts all-time.
"For us and our program, it's a nice step to bring the Mayor's Cup back here to 11th and Harvard," Konkol said. "That was a total team effort for our guys. I have a lot of respect for Oral Roberts and the way they came out to play. They really punched first. They were the aggressors to begin the game – just in the way that they applied pressure, the way that they did some different things, the pace that they were playing with. We had to adjust and react. But I think our guys did well.
Graduate guard Keaston Willis scored 22 points to lead four TU players who scored in double figures. He knocked down three triples and finished 9-of-12 at the foul line. Dwon Odom and Isaiah Barnes each scored 15, while Tyshawn Archie added 14. Braeden Carrington added nine to fall one short of joining the others.
Willis was also active on the glass, grabbing eight rebounds. Ian Smikle finished with seven, including three on the offensive side. Isaiah Barnes had six rebounds and Odom pulled down five.
ORU was paced by Issac McBride, who scored a game-high 24 points. However, Tulsa keyed in on the dangerous shooter in the second half. He scored his 20th point of the game on a 3-pointer with 11:15 remaining, and then was held without a point until a pair of free throws with 39 seconds remaining and the game decided. The Golden Eagles also got double digit scoring contributions from Jojo Moore (13), Sam Alajiki (13) and Jalen Miller (12). Alajiki recorded a double-double with 10 boards.
ORU jumped out to an early advantage, but Tulsa battled back, taking the lead for the first time midway through the opening half. From there, Tulsa built its lead out to double digits before going to the locker room up nine, 38-29. In the second 20, Tulsa continued to stretch its lead out, eventually taking a 20-point lead. ORU clawed its way back into the game, but the Hurricane continued to keep them at an arm's length and held on for the win.
"We were able to get that big lead in the second half and kind of, limp to the finish line a little bit," Konkol said. " Give credit to Oral Roberts for the plays that they made. The rebounding is something that we got to be able to continue to fix. But we took care of the basketball, we were plus in the turnover margin. We shared it and then guys were able to make the key plays when we needed it. So total team effort from our group."
Tulsa's defense made ORU work for its points on Wednesday, holding the Eagles to 39.7 percent (27-of-68) from the floor and 25 percent (7-of-28) on 3-pointers. On the other side, TU knocked down 47.4 percent (27-of-57) of its efforts and buried nine 3-pointers at a 34.6 percent clip.
Both teams handled the ball well, with Tulsa turning ORU over just nine times, while the Hurricane only turned it over five times. However, Tulsa took advantage of ORU's turnovers to the tune of 15 points, while Oral Roberts managed just two points off Tulsa's turnovers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
IN THE FIRST HALF . . .
ORU punched first on Wednesday, jumping out to a 12-6 lead at the first media timeout. The Golden Eagles knocked down five of its first nine shots (55.6 percent) to open the game, while Tulsa was just 2-of-8 (25 percent) in that same time frame.
Both teams went through a scoring drought with no made field goals from 15:21 until an Issac McBride jumper with 12:11 to play in the half to give ORU a 14-8 lead. A pair of Keaston Willis free throws were Tulsa's only points in that three-minute span.
After the second media timeout of the evening, Tulsa began to make its push. Tyshawn Arche connected on a 3-pointer out of the break and was fouled, completing the four-point play to make it a two-point game. Arche pulled up for three at the 10:09 mark to give TU its first lead of the night, 15-14.
Oral Roberts tied the game twice over the next three minutes but was unable to take the lead. A Dwon Odom jumper put Tulsa ahead for good, 21-19, with 6:52 in the half. An ORU turnover led to an Isaiah Barnes 3-pointer, joining Odom's jumper as part of a 17-5 TU run over five minutes of game time as Tulsa pushed its lead into double digits, 36-24. Braeden Carrington put an exclamation point on the run with a 3-pointer in transition at the 1:51 mark.
The visitors scored the next five points before a Carrington layup sent the teams to the lockers with Tulsa up 38-29. Willis had 11 in the opening half, while Barnes and Archie each scored eight.
IN THE SECOND HALF . . .
Willis opened the second half with a 3-pointer to put Tulsa back ahead 12, 41-29 with 18:57 to play. Oral Roberts would not get the score back under 10 until the final minute of action.
Tulsa maintained its lead throughout the majority of the second half. Neither team made any extended runs as the lead would creep up to 15 or 16 before a couple of ORU baskets would bring it back down to 12.
TU did push its lead to a game-high 20 for the first time, 60-40, with 11:20 to play. Jesaiah McWright made a 3-pointer to push the lead to 17, and then Barnes connected on a second-chance triple on the ensuing possession. The lead got back to 20 two more times with a little more than nine minutes to play.
However, the Golden Eagles responded with a 7-0 run from 9:13 to 7:46 to cut the lead to 13, 67-54. Willis found freshman Ian Smikle down low for an open layup to end the run and not allow ORU too much momentum. From that point on, the lead would not eclipse 15.
The teams traded field goals and free throws the remainder of the way. When Tulsa scored, ORU responded, and when ORU scored, Tulsa did the same. With the lead down to 10 with 2:52 to play, Willis connected on a pair of free throws and Odom knocked down a jumper to put TU ahead 79-65 with just over two minutes to play.
ORU made a final push with a 3-pointer to cut the lead back to ten with 1:20 remaining. Archie and the Tulsa offense put it to bed by running an extended shot clock and then Archie finished at the rim to put TU up 12.
From there, Issac McBride scored his first points in nearly 10 minutes, but it was too late as Tulsa did what it needed to do at the line and held on for the 85-76 win.
GAME NOTES
• Tulsa is 37-22 against ORU all-time.
• The Hurricane is 3-0 in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, which spanned the final year of Doug Wojcik's tenure and the first of Danny Manning's.
• Keaston Willis had his 88th career double-figure scoring game and fifth in five games with Tulsa … it was his first game to score 20 in a Tulsa uniform.
• At least four Tulsa players have scored in double figures in each game this season.
• Tyshawn Archie scored in double figures for the 14th time.
• Isaiah Barnes also reached double figures for the 16 time in his career.
• Dwon Odom finished with 10+ points for the third time at Tulsa.
• Tulsa scored 15 points of ORU turnovers, while the Golden Eagles only scored two off of Tulsa's.
• Tulsa's five turnovers ties for second fewest under head coach Eric Konkol … Tulsa turned it over just three times against Wichita State on March 2, 2022.
Next up for the Golden Hurricane is its first road trip of the season. Tulsa heads to Springfield to take on Missouri State this Saturday. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN+.
With the win, Tulsa has started 3-0 in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2011-12 and 2012-13 campaigns. The win snapped a three-game losing streak against the Golden Eagles (1-2) and was TU's first win in the series since 2019 and first under head coach Eric Konkol. The Hurricane improves to 37-22 against Oral Roberts all-time.
"For us and our program, it's a nice step to bring the Mayor's Cup back here to 11th and Harvard," Konkol said. "That was a total team effort for our guys. I have a lot of respect for Oral Roberts and the way they came out to play. They really punched first. They were the aggressors to begin the game – just in the way that they applied pressure, the way that they did some different things, the pace that they were playing with. We had to adjust and react. But I think our guys did well.
Graduate guard Keaston Willis scored 22 points to lead four TU players who scored in double figures. He knocked down three triples and finished 9-of-12 at the foul line. Dwon Odom and Isaiah Barnes each scored 15, while Tyshawn Archie added 14. Braeden Carrington added nine to fall one short of joining the others.
Willis was also active on the glass, grabbing eight rebounds. Ian Smikle finished with seven, including three on the offensive side. Isaiah Barnes had six rebounds and Odom pulled down five.
ORU was paced by Issac McBride, who scored a game-high 24 points. However, Tulsa keyed in on the dangerous shooter in the second half. He scored his 20th point of the game on a 3-pointer with 11:15 remaining, and then was held without a point until a pair of free throws with 39 seconds remaining and the game decided. The Golden Eagles also got double digit scoring contributions from Jojo Moore (13), Sam Alajiki (13) and Jalen Miller (12). Alajiki recorded a double-double with 10 boards.
ORU jumped out to an early advantage, but Tulsa battled back, taking the lead for the first time midway through the opening half. From there, Tulsa built its lead out to double digits before going to the locker room up nine, 38-29. In the second 20, Tulsa continued to stretch its lead out, eventually taking a 20-point lead. ORU clawed its way back into the game, but the Hurricane continued to keep them at an arm's length and held on for the win.
"We were able to get that big lead in the second half and kind of, limp to the finish line a little bit," Konkol said. " Give credit to Oral Roberts for the plays that they made. The rebounding is something that we got to be able to continue to fix. But we took care of the basketball, we were plus in the turnover margin. We shared it and then guys were able to make the key plays when we needed it. So total team effort from our group."
Tulsa's defense made ORU work for its points on Wednesday, holding the Eagles to 39.7 percent (27-of-68) from the floor and 25 percent (7-of-28) on 3-pointers. On the other side, TU knocked down 47.4 percent (27-of-57) of its efforts and buried nine 3-pointers at a 34.6 percent clip.
Both teams handled the ball well, with Tulsa turning ORU over just nine times, while the Hurricane only turned it over five times. However, Tulsa took advantage of ORU's turnovers to the tune of 15 points, while Oral Roberts managed just two points off Tulsa's turnovers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
IN THE FIRST HALF . . .
ORU punched first on Wednesday, jumping out to a 12-6 lead at the first media timeout. The Golden Eagles knocked down five of its first nine shots (55.6 percent) to open the game, while Tulsa was just 2-of-8 (25 percent) in that same time frame.
Both teams went through a scoring drought with no made field goals from 15:21 until an Issac McBride jumper with 12:11 to play in the half to give ORU a 14-8 lead. A pair of Keaston Willis free throws were Tulsa's only points in that three-minute span.
After the second media timeout of the evening, Tulsa began to make its push. Tyshawn Arche connected on a 3-pointer out of the break and was fouled, completing the four-point play to make it a two-point game. Arche pulled up for three at the 10:09 mark to give TU its first lead of the night, 15-14.
Oral Roberts tied the game twice over the next three minutes but was unable to take the lead. A Dwon Odom jumper put Tulsa ahead for good, 21-19, with 6:52 in the half. An ORU turnover led to an Isaiah Barnes 3-pointer, joining Odom's jumper as part of a 17-5 TU run over five minutes of game time as Tulsa pushed its lead into double digits, 36-24. Braeden Carrington put an exclamation point on the run with a 3-pointer in transition at the 1:51 mark.
The visitors scored the next five points before a Carrington layup sent the teams to the lockers with Tulsa up 38-29. Willis had 11 in the opening half, while Barnes and Archie each scored eight.
IN THE SECOND HALF . . .
Willis opened the second half with a 3-pointer to put Tulsa back ahead 12, 41-29 with 18:57 to play. Oral Roberts would not get the score back under 10 until the final minute of action.
Tulsa maintained its lead throughout the majority of the second half. Neither team made any extended runs as the lead would creep up to 15 or 16 before a couple of ORU baskets would bring it back down to 12.
TU did push its lead to a game-high 20 for the first time, 60-40, with 11:20 to play. Jesaiah McWright made a 3-pointer to push the lead to 17, and then Barnes connected on a second-chance triple on the ensuing possession. The lead got back to 20 two more times with a little more than nine minutes to play.
However, the Golden Eagles responded with a 7-0 run from 9:13 to 7:46 to cut the lead to 13, 67-54. Willis found freshman Ian Smikle down low for an open layup to end the run and not allow ORU too much momentum. From that point on, the lead would not eclipse 15.
The teams traded field goals and free throws the remainder of the way. When Tulsa scored, ORU responded, and when ORU scored, Tulsa did the same. With the lead down to 10 with 2:52 to play, Willis connected on a pair of free throws and Odom knocked down a jumper to put TU ahead 79-65 with just over two minutes to play.
ORU made a final push with a 3-pointer to cut the lead back to ten with 1:20 remaining. Archie and the Tulsa offense put it to bed by running an extended shot clock and then Archie finished at the rim to put TU up 12.
From there, Issac McBride scored his first points in nearly 10 minutes, but it was too late as Tulsa did what it needed to do at the line and held on for the 85-76 win.
GAME NOTES
• Tulsa is 37-22 against ORU all-time.
• The Hurricane is 3-0 in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, which spanned the final year of Doug Wojcik's tenure and the first of Danny Manning's.
• Keaston Willis had his 88th career double-figure scoring game and fifth in five games with Tulsa … it was his first game to score 20 in a Tulsa uniform.
• At least four Tulsa players have scored in double figures in each game this season.
• Tyshawn Archie scored in double figures for the 14th time.
• Isaiah Barnes also reached double figures for the 16 time in his career.
• Dwon Odom finished with 10+ points for the third time at Tulsa.
• Tulsa scored 15 points of ORU turnovers, while the Golden Eagles only scored two off of Tulsa's.
• Tulsa's five turnovers ties for second fewest under head coach Eric Konkol … Tulsa turned it over just three times against Wichita State on March 2, 2022.
Next up for the Golden Hurricane is its first road trip of the season. Tulsa heads to Springfield to take on Missouri State this Saturday. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN+.
Team Stats
ORU
Tulsa
FG%
.397
.474
3FG%
.250
.346
FT%
.714
.733
RB
45
36
TO
9
5
STL
1
4
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
9
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
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