Oral Roberts University Men's Basketball Hosts Missouri State Friday

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By Press release submission

Dec 17, 2022

The Oral Roberts men's basketball team continues hits homestand Friday, December 16 when Missouri State visits the Mabee Center at 7 p.m.

ORU will be honoring all teachers Friday evening for Teacher Appreciation Night. All teachers and school employees who present their ID will receive up to four (4) free tickets to the game.

Fans can tune in to watch the game via the ORU Sports Network or by following along on Twitter @ORUMBB

Quick Hits
• Max Abmas was named preseason Summit League Player of the Year and to the league's preseason First Team. Abmas earned a spot on the Naismith Player of the Year Watch List and the NABC Preseason Player of the Year Watch List as well as on the 2023 Bob Cousy Award Watch List and Wooden Top 50. All for the second-straight season.

• For the first time since 2011-12, the Golden Eagles were picked No. 1 in the Summit League preseason rankings. ORU is also No. 24 in the College Insider Mid-Major Poll.

• Abmas is averaging 19.6 points per game which puts him 22nd in the nation. Two other Golden Eagles average double-digits with Issac McBride and Connor Vanover. Vanover averages 12.0 points and McBride scores 11.7.

• Vanover has totaled 35 blocks this season. He currently is second in the nation in total blocks and in blocks per game (3.5). As a team, ORU is 16th in the nation in blocks per game.

• Abmas is 10th in the nation in free-throw percentage and 11th in three-pointers per game.

• ORU is hitting 11.5 triples per game, which puts the team 6th in the nation and first in the Summit League. The Golden Eagles have totaled 127 three-point buckets this season.

• On the glass, ORU leads the Summit League and is 32nd in the nation in defensive rebounds per game (28.3).

• This will be the 20th all-time meeting between Oral Roberts and Missouri State. ORU trails the series, 9-10. Last season, the Golden Eagles fell, 69-60 on December 11, 2021, in Springfield, Missouri.

Scouting the Opponent

• Missouri State is 4-6 on the season and on a three game losing streak. In its previous game, MSU fell to Purdue Fort Wayne, 65-61, at home.

• Chance Moore is the lone Bear scoring in double-digits with 14.2 points per game.

• The Bears average 62.8 points per game and shoots 42 percent from the field and 30.9 from three-point range. Missouri State is 23rd in the nation in scoring defense.