TULSA, Okla. -- South Dakota travels to take on Oral Roberts on Saturday at 7 p.m. inside the Mabee Center.
The Game
This will be the second matchup of the season between the two squads. South Dakota is winners of its last 10 of 11 as well as riding an eight-game win streak.
The Golden Eagles
Oral Roberts currently sits at 6-6 in the conference and 13-12 overall. ORU sits in fourth place behind South Dakota, South Dakota State and North Dakota State in the League standings.
Oral Roberts recently defeated Omaha in overtime on Wednesday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 81-78 to snap a two-game skid. The Golden Eagles have only won two games since they traveled to Vermillion, South Dakota, on Jan. 25. During that span, ORU has been outscored by an average margin of 3.2 points per game and has been shooting 41 percent from the field.
Oral Roberts is led by Emmanuel Nzekwesi with 16.3 points per game while Deondre Burns averages 15.8 points. Max Abmas (14.1) and Kevin Obanor (11.6) round out the double-figure scoring for the Golden Eagles.
As a team, Oral Roberts averages 78.5 points per game on 43.9 percent shooting and 32.1 percent from deep.
The Golden Eagles are 10-1 at home this season and have outscored its opponents by an average margin of 14.6 points per game. ORU has been holding its opponent to 67.9 points per game on 41.8 percent shooting from the field. ORU also has been outrebounding the opposition by a margin of 8.7 a game while at home.
The Coyotes (19-8, 9-3 SL)
South Dakota enters on an eight-game win streak after beating Western Illinois this past week. USD sits in third place in the conference standings behind North Dakota State and South Dakota State.
Tyler Hagedorn leads the team with 18.9 points per game which ranks first in the Summit.
Stanley Umude averages 16.8 points which rank sixth in the League as well.
Cody Kelley (11.1),
Triston Simpson (11.7) and
Tyler Peterson (11) round out the starting five that all average in double figures for the Yotes. USD is one of two Divison I schools that have five players average 11 points or more.
As a team, the Yotes average 80.2 points per game while shooting 49.5 percent from the field and 39.6 percent from deep.
The Series
Oral Roberts leads the overall series at 8-7 while leading the series with games played in Tulsa. It's the 16th matchup between the two squads. Oral Roberts swept the season series last season but USD defeated the Golden Eagles at home 91-80 on Jan. 25
One Last Thing
Stanley Umude erupted for a season-high 28 points on an efficient 10-of-13 shooting against Western Illinois on Wednesday. The junior connected on 8-of-9 from the line as well.
