Oral Roberts University Men's Basketball Takes On St. Thomas Saturday at Home

Max Abmas/Men's Basketball | Oral Roberts University

By Press release submission

Jan 18, 2023

The Oral Roberts men's basketball team will face the St. Thomas Tommies Saturday, January 14 at 7 p.m. in the Mabee Center.

ORU Alumni can receive four (4) FREE tickets by clicking HERE and showing the graphic in the North Lobby of the arena the evening of 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. 6 in the College Insider Mid-Major Poll.

• Abmas is averaging 22.1 points per game which is 7th in the nation. Two other Golden Eagles average double-digits with Issac McBride and Connor Vanover. Vanover averages 12.4 points and McBride scores 11.

• Vanover has totaled 59 blocks this season. He currently is second in the nation in total blocks and second in blocks per game (3.5). As a team, ORU is 5th in the nation in blocks per game (6.0).

• Abmas is 10th in the nation in free-throw percentage and 6th in three-pointers per game.

• ORU is hitting 11.1 triples per game, which puts the team 5th in the nation and first in the Summit League. The Golden Eagles have totaled 200 three-point buckets this season.

• On the glass, ORU leads the Summit League in defensive rebounds with per game (27.6).

• This will be the 3rd all-time meeting between Oral Roberts and St. Thomas. ORU leads the series, 2-0. The Golden Eagles claimed both meetings last season. ORU won 81-66 at home (Jan. 6) and on the road, 88-66, (Feb. 3).

Scouting the Opponent

• In its second year in Division I, UST is 13-7 overall and 4-3 in Summit League play, and on a one game losing streak. In its previous game, the Tommies fell at Kansas City, 81-60.

• Three average double figures with Andrew Rohde leading the team with 14.9 ppg. Riley Miller scores 14.2 points and Parker Bjorklund scores 13.9 ppg.

• The Tommies average 76.3 points per game and shoot 46.5 percent from the field and 37.5 from three-point range. St. Thomas was picked 8th in the Summit League preseason poll and are currently three games behind ORU in the league standings.