Box Score Feb. 28, 2015
Box Score
MBB at Oral Roberts (28 FEB 15) - Audio Only
TULSA, Okla. - Cam Griffin (San Antonio, Texas) scored 14 points, grabbed four rebounds and had three steals but it was not enough as the University of Denver men's basketball fell to the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles Saturday night at the Mabee Center, 60-57.
The Pioneers (12-17, 6-10 Summit League) couldn't overcome the 25 points by the Golden Eagles' (17-13, 10-6 Summit League) Obi Emegano and had their two-game road winning streak snapped.
Oral Roberts opened a 10-point lead with 12:33 remaining in the game and the Pioneers couldn't get closer than two the rest of the way. Denver fought hard for 40 minutes but could not get that timely shot to fall as they closed out their 2014-15 regular season.
Bryant Rucker (Frisco, Texas) gave the Crimson and Gold a spark off the bench scoring 12 points and grabbing four rebounds. Marcus Byrd (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) scored 13 points and added three assists.
The Golden Eagles suffocated DU's leading scorer Brett Olson (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) holding him to seven points on 2-of-9 shooting from the field. Cam Delaney (Harker Heights, Texas) added four points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
"We have now played six good halves in a row," head coach Joe Scott said. "We are playing our best basketball of the season heading into our league tournament."
Denver outrebounded the ORU 25-21. DU had 15 assists on 18 made field goals, while Oral Roberts won the battle in the paint outscoring the Pioneers 28-20.
Nate Engesser (Colorado Springs, Colo.) chipped in seven points and three rebounds as the Pioneers will head home and get a week of practice before heading to Sioux Falls for The Summit League Tournament.
Denver shot just 43.9 percent (18-of-41), to Oral Roberts's 52.5 percent (21-of-40) from the field. The Pioneers made 33.3 percent from behind the 3-point line (7-of-21). Denver held the Golden Eagles to just 25.0 percent (3-of-12) from 3-point range.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair as neither team led by more than five points. Oral Roberts opened up a 16-11 lead with 11:22 remaining in the first half. Denver answered by going on a 5-0 run to tie the game at 16. Oral Roberts closed the half on an 11-7 run.
The Golden Eagles took a 27-23 lead into the locker room.
The Crimson and Gold were led by Byrd's eight points in the first half. Rucker scored seven points and had two rebounds off the bench. Emegano led Oral Roberts with 11 first half points.
Denver shot 45.0 percent (9-of-20) from the floor in the opening 20 minutes. Oral Roberts shot 45.5 percent (10-of-22) in the first half. The Pioneers hit for 33.3 percent (4-of-12) from behind the arc in the first half. The Golden Eagles shot 25.0 percent (2-of-8) from behind the 3-point line in the first half.
Oral Roberts was led in the game by Emegano who scored 25 points and pulled down five rebounds.
Notes: Olson played and started his 123nd game moving him into third all-time in games played. Jalen Love (Wichita, Kansas) missed his fifth straight game with an injury. Jake Pemberton (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) missed his third straight game due to illness.
Denver will open the Summit League Tournament with a quarterfinal game on Saturday, Mar. 7 at 7:30 p.m. MT against defending Summit League Champion North Dakota State. The game will be played at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, S.D. The game can be heard on Mile High Sports Radio 94.1 FM with Raj Sharan on the call.
Fans interested in purchasing tickets to Denver home athletic events can do so by phone at 303-871-2336, in person at the Ritchie Center box office or through DenverPioneers.com by clicking here.
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