Oral Roberts University’s men’s basketball team is set to host two key Summit League games this week at the Mabee Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Golden Eagles will face North Dakota on Thursday, January 22 at 7 p.m. CT, followed by a matchup against league-leading North Dakota State on Saturday, January 24 at 7 p.m. CT. Both games will be available for viewing on the Summit League Network.
Head Coach Kory Barnett, who was appointed as the program’s 13th head coach on March 8, 2025, leads Oral Roberts (5-15 overall, 0-5 in conference) into these contests. The team recorded its first win under Barnett against John Brown with an 84-50 victory earlier this season.
This year, ORU welcomed twelve new players to its roster—four freshmen and eight transfers. Among individual performances, Ty Harper currently ranks sixth in the Summit League for scoring with an average of 15.7 points per game over nineteen appearances. Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams has contributed defensively with an average of 2.5 blocks per game in four league contests.
The Golden Eagles have faced tough competition so far this season and rank first in the Summit League for blocks per game during conference play with a rate of 4.4. Connor Dow leads the league in three-point attempts (154) and is fourth in made three-pointers (50), placing him among national leaders in both categories.
In terms of team statistics, Oral Roberts is shooting 74.8 percent from the free-throw line this season—second-best in the Summit League and ranked No.85 nationally.
North Dakota enters Thursday’s game with a record of 10-12 overall and a conference mark of 4-2. The Fighting Hawks are known for their strong bench production—averaging nearly thirty points per game—and aggressive defense that includes averages of more than nine steals and almost sixteen forced turnovers per contest.
North Dakota State arrives undefeated in conference play (6-0) and holds a national ranking of No.34 for steals per game at just over nine per outing. In their previous meeting this month, ORU lost to NDSU by two points after double overtime.
For fans seeking updates or live coverage beyond television broadcasts, information is available through official Oral Roberts Athletics social media channels or via their website www.ORUAthletics.com.
