Sweet Redemption! Golden Eagles Down Chicago State to Reach NCAA Tournament for First Time in 22 Years

TULSA -- Tournament MVP Ken Tutt (Garland, Texas) scored a game-high 25 points to lead Oral Roberts University to a 85-72 Mid-Continent Conference Tournament championship game win over Chicago State, Tuesday at John Q. Hammons Arena. The victory sends the Golden Eagles to their first NCAA Tournament in 22 years.

Tutt, who earlier this season missed 10 games with a broken right foot, capped a marvelous three-game stretch with one of the best performances of his career and helping ORU erase the memory of last season's stunning title game loss to seventh-seeded Oakland. The two-time all-conference junior was 8-of-12 from the field including 4-of-6 from three-point range, and 5-of-6 from the free throw line.

In a first half which was eerily similar to last season's against Oakland, the Golden Eagles (21-11) and sixth-seeded Cougars (11-19) battled back-and-forth. ORU took a 16-15 lead on a Caleb Green (Tulsa, Okla.) jump hook with 10:02 left in the half and went ahead 29-25 on Mickey Michalec's (Skiatook, Okla.) jumper with 7:07 left.

Chicago State was able to rally and take a 34-31 lead on Marin Mulic's three-pointer with 1:08 left. Michalec's jumper with 53 seconds before the half put ORU within 34-33 at the break.

Tutt and Green, who combined to score just nine points in the first, led ORU's championship charge in the final 20 minutes, scoring 31 points.

Tutt opened ORU's second-half scoring by nailing a three and giving the Golden Eagles a 36-34 lead with 19:04 to play. He converted a pair of free throws for a 38-35 lead, and gave ORU back the lead with a jumper at 17:01 for a 40-39 advantage.

A three-point play by Larry Owens (Mesa, Ariz.) put ORU up 43-39 with 16:20 to go. Holston tied it at 44-44 with a jumper at 15:29, but by the time the Cougars scored again the Golden Eagles were in complete control.

A layup by Green and a pair of free throw by Owens made it 53-44. A dunk by Owens put ORU ahead 57-44 and three straight free throws gave the Golden Eagles a 60-44 leadwith 10:11 left.

Holston broke CSU's skid with a trey at 8:59 to make it 62-48, but Chris Riouse (Broken Arrow, Okla.) answered with a three-pointer on the other end and ORU went back up by 17 points at 65-48. ORU extended the lead to 70-48 and CSU never got closer than the final margin.

Owens finished with a career-high 24 points, four rebounds and three assists, making 6-of-8 from the field and 9-of-11 at the line. Green notched his 14th double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Holston led the Cougars with 21 points, while Henderson added 13.

ORU shot 58.5 percent for the game, including 66.7 percent in the second half. The Golden Eagles were 27-of-35 from the free throw line.

Game Notes: Tuesday's victory marked the first time this season the Golden Eagles won when trailing at halftime (1-8) …Tutt was joined on the all-tournament team by Green and Owens, along with IUPUI's George Hill and Chicago State's Royce Parran.