Oral Roberts University’s men’s basketball team was unable to secure a win against South Dakota, losing 77-69 at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion. Ty Harper led the Golden Eagles with a career-high 23 points, but the team struggled in the second half as South Dakota overcame a halftime deficit.
The Golden Eagles had three players scoring in double figures. Ofri Naveh contributed 17 points and seven rebounds, while Connor Dow finished with 10 points and nine rebounds, narrowly missing a double-double. The game started with Oral Roberts falling behind early before taking a lead after a 7-0 run initiated by Harper. They maintained momentum to end the first half ahead, 37-31.
However, South Dakota responded strongly after halftime, building up to a 70-58 advantage late in the game. Oral Roberts narrowed the gap with another run but could not regain control as South Dakota outscored them in the final minutes.
Statistically, both teams shot 42 percent from the field. Oral Roberts made 27 of their 64 attempts from three-point range, while South Dakota converted on 24 of their 57 three-point shots. The Golden Eagles committed ten turnovers and forced five from their opponents.
Other notable contributions for Oral Roberts included blocks from Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams, Luke Gray, and Ofri Naveh.
The Golden Eagles’ next game is scheduled against South Dakota State in Brookings on January 31 as they begin the second half of Summit League play.
For updates on ORU men’s basketball, fans can follow @ORUMBB on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook or visit www.ORUAthletics.com. Updates are also available through the ORU Athletics App on Google Play or App Store.
