TULSA — The Oral Roberts University men’s basketball team extended the nation’s second longest home game win streak to 21 on Tuesday evening with a 71-59 victory over John Brown University at the ORU Mabee Center.
Four Golden Eagles scored in double digits as ORU continued to stay strong at home, extending one the nation’s longest home win streaks. Issac McBride led ORU with 19 points on the night with nine coming from the charity stripe. It was the eighth time this season he led ORU in scoring.
After scoring first, ORU saw itself down two just two minutes into the game, ORU would then regain the lead with a Jailen Bedford three a minute and a half later. Once the Golden Eagles retook the lead, they never looked back. ORU went on a 12-0 run with four consecutive 3-point baskets, with two from Bedford. ORU’s Golden Eagles (5-6) would lead by as much as 12 with 9:33 left in the first.
JBU’s Golden Eagles (6-4) would close the gap to 29-27 with 38 seconds left. On the final possession, McBride was fouled on a 3-point shot and went to the line and made all three free throws as ORU led 3227 at the half.
ORU held JBU to 1-for-11 from the 3-point line in the first.
With 14 minutes to go in the game, ORU saw itself with an 11-points lead and looked to begin to run away with the contest. JBU would cut the lead down to four with 10:42 to go.
With 5:46 to play, DeShang Weaver hit a 3-point jumper to lift ORU back up by 10 and then McBride put the team up by 12 the following possession.
With just less than five minutes to play, Sir Issac Herron made a free throw to give ORU its largest lead of the game by 13.
Bedford closed out the night with 16 points for his sixth straight double-digit outing and eighth of the season. Kareem Thompson had 13 points with four assists, to lead ORU in that category. Thompson also shot 50 percent from long range. Herron was one of ORU’s leading rebounders with a career high seven boards. He also recorded 10 points.
In defeat, former Muldrow Bulldog Tyren Collins scored eight points for JBU, which was led by 11 points from Josh Stewart.
ORU will return to action Friday night with a 7 p.m. road Summit League game against Missouri-Kansas City.
JBU’s next game will be at 8 p.m. Jan. 4 on the road against the University of North Texas at Dallas.
