Oral Roberts shocks Ohio State, first big upset of NCAAs
AP
Mar 20, 2021
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) Ohio State Buckeyes's players were dancing around in the moments before tipoff against Oral Roberts Golden Eagles, relaxed and full of swagger.
The Buckeyes aren't dancing anymore. The 15th-seeded Golden Eagles pulled off the first major upset of the first NCAA Tournament in two years, holding off second-seeded Ohio State 75-72 in overtime on Friday.
''When they rank them, it was only just a number at the end of the day,'' said Kevin Obanor, who led Oral Roberts with 30 points and 11 rebounds. ''We put our shoes on just as the other team puts their shoes on. We just had the mindset of, `Show us that you deserve to be No. 2,' and we came out with a lot of confidence.''
Oral Roberts got poised, impeccable performances from its two stars, Obanor and guard Max Abmas, to become the ninth 15 seed to win a first-round game and the first since Middle Tennessee shocked Michigan State in 2016. Last year's tournament was called off because of the pandemic.
Obanor scored seven of Oral Roberts' 11 points in overtime, including two free throws with 13 seconds left. Abmas, the nation's leading scorer, had 29 points.
''Their two players that obviously concerned us were terrific, so give them, their coaches, their players, their program, their university a lot of credit for this win,'' Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann said. ''We had no illusions that this was going to be by any stretch anything other than a really challenging game, and it obviously was that from the very jump.''
Ohio State could have tied it in the closing seconds of overtime, but Duane Washington Jr.'s open 3-pointer from straight away bounced off the side of the rim, and Oral Roberts celebrated its first tournament win since 1974.
The Golden Eagles' roster is full of lightly recruited players who found their way to the small, private Christian school in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Summit League champions bowed their heads in a prayer circle after their victory over the Big Ten power.
''I know growing up, all my life, I was always like the underdog,'' Obanor said. ''The school is not a big school. Just to prove people wrong, it's a blessing just to have people that are really committed and believe that we're the better team.''
The Golden Eagles (17-10) will play seventh-seeded Florida in the South Region on Sunday.
E.J. Liddell had 23 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Buckeyes (21-10). Washington had 18 points and 10 rebounds but made just 7 of 21 shots.
Oral Roberts scored the game's first seven points, including a 3-pointer by Abmas from the logo that drew a collective ''Ooooh!'' from the socially distanced crowd.
The Buckeyes led by eight before the Golden Eagles rallied. Abmas hit a 3-pointer with about five minutes left in the first half to give Oral Roberts a 26-25 lead, prompting a chant of ''O-R-U!'' He hit another 3 moments later to force an Ohio State timeout. He made 5 of 7 3-pointers in the first half and had 18 points at the break as the Golden Eagles led 36-33.
The Summit League champions led by seven in the second half before Ohio State rallied to take a 60-58 lead on a pullup jumper by CJ Walker with just under five minutes to play.
Obanor was fouled with 14 seconds to play, and he made both free throws to tie the game at 64. Washington missed a step-back jumper in the closing seconds, and the Buckeys had no answer for Obanor in the extra session.
''This is obviously a really, really bitter end to a terrific season,'' Holtmann said. ''We'll own that and accept it and we'll move forward.''
MAKING FREEBIES
Oral Roberts entered the game with a chance to set the Division I record for free-throw shooting percentage in a season. The Division I record is 82.18%, set by Harvard in 1984. Oral Roberts entered the game at 82.35%, but made 14 of 18 in the game to slide to 82.17%.
KNEELING
Five Ohio State players knelt during the playing of the national anthem, one of many such demonstrations during the tournament.
STAT LINES
Ohio State outrebounded Oral Roberts 49-32, but the Golden Eagles balanced that out by committing six turnovers to the Buckeyes' 16.
QUOTABLE
Oral Roberts coach Paul Mills on getting ready for Florida: ''I mean, the reality is you have to turn around and you're about to play another one, so the celebration better be pretty quick. If you spend all your time looking back at your wedding day videos, you're probably not going to have a very good marriage.''
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1st Half
ORU
Golden Eagles
36
OSU
Buckeyes
33
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Kevin Obanor vs. E.J. Liddell (Max Abmas gains possession)
19:38
+2
Max Abmas makes two point layup (Carlos Jurgens assists)
2-0
19:22
E.J. Liddell misses two point layup
19:20
Carlos Jurgens defensive rebound
19:06
Justin Ahrens blocks Carlos Jurgens's two point jump shot
19:04
Francis Lacis offensive rebound
18:55
+2
Francis Lacis makes two point tip shot
4-0
18:39
E.J. Liddell misses three point jump shot
18:37
Max Abmas defensive rebound
18:25
+3
Max Abmas makes three point jump shot
7-0
18:03
+2
Duane Washington Jr. makes two point driving layup
7-2
17:45
Carlos Jurgens misses two point jump shot
17:43
E.J. Liddell defensive rebound
17:34
Justice Sueing misses two point jump shot
17:32
E.J. Liddell offensive rebound
17:28
+2
E.J. Liddell makes two point putback layup
7-4
17:16
Kevin Obanor turnover (traveling)
16:55
+3
Duane Washington Jr. makes three point jump shot
7-7
16:38
Justin Ahrens blocks Carlos Jurgens's two point jump shot
16:36
E.J. Liddell defensive rebound
16:24
+3
Duane Washington Jr. makes three point jump shot (E.J. Liddell assists)
7-10
16:12
+3
Max Abmas makes three point jump shot (Carlos Jurgens assists)
10-10
15:57
Justice Sueing misses two point hook shot
15:55
Golden Eagles defensive rebound
15:54
TV timeout
15:47
Max Abmas misses three point jump shot
15:45
E.J. Liddell defensive rebound
15:25
+3
Duane Washington Jr. makes three point jump shot
10-13
15:05
+2
Kareem Thompson makes two point layup (Francis Lacis assists)
12-13
14:53
Justice Sueing misses three point jump shot
14:51
Buckeyes offensive rebound
14:39
+2
Justice Sueing makes two point jump shot
12-15
14:23
Max Abmas misses two point layup
14:21
E.J. Liddell defensive rebound
14:15
+2
Musa Jallow makes two point layup (E.J. Liddell assists)
12-17
14:03
Kevin Obanor misses three point jump shot
14:01
Justice Sueing defensive rebound
13:38
Duane Washington Jr. misses three point jump shot
13:36
Kevin Obanor defensive rebound
13:26
Musa Jallow shooting foul (Max Abmas draws the foul)
13:26
Max Abmas misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:26
+1
Max Abmas makes regular free throw 2 of 2
13-17
13:00
Duane Washington Jr. misses three point jump shot
12:58
Kevin Obanor defensive rebound
12:49
Kevin Obanor misses three point jump shot
12:47
Duane Washington Jr. defensive rebound
12:42
CJ Walker turnover (lost ball)
12:30
Max Abmas misses two point layup
12:28
Kevin Obanor offensive rebound
12:22
Kevin Obanor misses two point layup
12:20
Musa Jallow defensive rebound
12:10
+2
Zed Key makes two point hook shot (CJ Walker assists)
13-19
11:58
Kareem Thompson misses three point jump shot
11:56
Duane Washington Jr. defensive rebound
11:38
Zed Key misses two point hook shot
11:36
DeShang Weaver defensive rebound
11:15
+2
DeShang Weaver makes two point dunk (Kareem Thompson assists)
15-19
10:54
+2
Zed Key makes two point hook shot (Musa Jallow assists)
15-21
10:31
Sheldon Stevens misses two point layup
10:29
Duane Washington Jr. defensive rebound
10:19
Duane Washington Jr. misses two point layup
10:17
DeShang Weaver defensive rebound
10:17
DeShang Weaver misses three point jump shot
10:15
Golden Eagles offensive rebound
10:11
Musa Jallow personal foul
10:11
TV timeout
10:05
DeShang Weaver misses two point layup
10:03
Seth Towns defensive rebound
9:49
Zed Key offensive foul (Kevin Obanor draws the foul)
9:49
Zed Key turnover
9:30
Sheldon Stevens misses three point jump shot
9:28
Max Abmas offensive rebound
9:18
Max Abmas misses two point layup
9:17
Duane Washington Jr. defensive rebound
9:17
Kevin Obanor shooting foul (CJ Walker draws the foul)
9:17
+1
CJ Walker makes regular free throw 1 of 2
15-22
9:17
+1
CJ Walker makes regular free throw 2 of 2
15-23
9:08
Kareem Thompson turnover (bad pass)
8:53
Justin Ahrens misses three point jump shot
8:51
E.J. Liddell offensive rebound
8:34
Justice Sueing misses two point jump shot
8:32
Kevin Obanor defensive rebound
8:25
Max Abmas misses two point jump shot
8:23
Seth Towns defensive rebound
8:16
Justin Ahrens misses three point jump shot
8:14
Kareem Thompson defensive rebound
7:58
DeShang Weaver misses three point jump shot
7:56
Kareem Thompson offensive rebound
7:50
Kareem Thompson misses two point floating jump shot
7:48
Seth Towns defensive rebound
7:35
E.J. Liddell misses two point jump shot
7:33
Carlos Jurgens defensive rebound
7:16
+3
Kevin Obanor makes three point jump shot (Carlos Jurgens assists)
18-23
6:56
CJ Walker misses two point jump shot
6:56
Buckeyes offensive rebound
6:55
DeShang Weaver personal foul (Seth Towns draws the foul)
6:54
TV timeout
6:47
CJ Walker misses three point jump shot
6:45
Carlos Jurgens defensive rebound
6:36
+2
Kevin Obanor makes two point dunk (Francis Lacis assists)
20-23
6:04
+2
Justice Sueing makes two point dunk (Duane Washington Jr. assists)
20-25
5:50
+3
Kevin Obanor makes three point jump shot
23-25
5:21
Duane Washington Jr. misses three point jump shot
5:19
Golden Eagles defensive rebound
5:07
E.J. Liddell personal foul (Kevin Obanor draws the foul)
4:58
+3
Max Abmas makes three point jump shot (Carlos Jurgens assists)
26-25
4:39
Carlos Jurgens personal foul (CJ Walker draws the foul)
4:36
CJ Walker turnover (Francis Lacis steals)
4:21
Kareem Thompson turnover (back court violation)
4:18
CJ Walker turnover (Carlos Jurgens steals)
4:04
Max Abmas misses two point jump shot
4:02
Francis Lacis offensive rebound
4:01
+3
Max Abmas makes three point jump shot (Carlos Jurgens assists)
29-25
4:01
Buckeyes 30 second timeout
3:42
Kareem Thompson shooting foul (CJ Walker draws the foul)
3:42
TV timeout
3:42
CJ Walker misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:42
+1
CJ Walker makes regular free throw 2 of 2
29-26
3:26
+3
Max Abmas makes three point jump shot
32-26
3:05
Francis Lacis shooting foul (Justice Sueing draws the foul)
3:05
Justice Sueing misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:05
+1
Justice Sueing makes regular free throw 2 of 2
29-27
2:45
+2
Kevin Obanor makes two point layup
34-27
2:27
+2
Justice Sueing makes two point dunk (E.J. Liddell assists)
34-29
2:14
Kevin Obanor misses three point jump shot
2:12
CJ Walker defensive rebound
2:06
CJ Walker misses two point jump shot
2:04
E.J. Liddell offensive rebound
2:02
+2
E.J. Liddell makes two point putback layup
34-31
1:47
Justice Sueing personal foul (Max Abmas draws the foul)
1:44
Max Abmas misses three point jump shot
1:42
Justin Ahrens defensive rebound
1:15
Seth Towns misses three point jump shot
1:13
Kevin Obanor defensive rebound
0:54
+2
Carlos Jurgens makes two point driving layup
36-31
0:30
+2
E.J. Liddell makes two point layup (Duane Washington Jr. assists)
36-33
0:20
Golden Eagles 30 second timeout
0:12
Justice Sueing personal foul (Max Abmas draws the foul)
0:02
Francis Lacis misses three point jump shot
0:00
Golden Eagles offensive rebound
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
ORU
Golden Eagles
28
OSU
Buckeyes
31
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:42
+2
Justin Ahrens makes two point reverse layup (Musa Jallow assists)
36-35
19:27
Francis Lacis misses three point jump shot
19:25
Duane Washington Jr. defensive rebound
19:14
Musa Jallow turnover (bad pass)
18:52
Carlos Jurgens misses three point jump shot
18:50
E.J. Liddell defensive rebound
18:43
Musa Jallow turnover (lost ball)
18:33
Kareem Thompson misses three point jump shot
18:31
Kevin Obanor offensive rebound
18:23
Kevin Obanor misses two point layup
18:21
CJ Walker defensive rebound
18:15
+2
E.J. Liddell makes two point layup (Justin Ahrens assists)
36-37
18:02
+3
Kevin Obanor makes three point jump shot (Max Abmas assists)
39-37
17:31
E.J. Liddell turnover (bad pass)
17:17
+3
Kevin Obanor makes three point jump shot (Max Abmas assists)
42-37
16:53
+2
E.J. Liddell makes two point jump shot
42-39
16:37
Kareem Thompson turnover (Justin Ahrens steals)
16:24
+3
Justin Ahrens makes three point jump shot (CJ Walker assists)
42-42
16:10
Max Abmas misses three point jump shot
16:08
Justin Ahrens defensive rebound
15:55
Musa Jallow misses two point hook shot
15:53
Golden Eagles defensive rebound
15:55
E.J. Liddell personal foul (Francis Lacis draws the foul)
15:55
TV timeout
15:26
+3
Francis Lacis makes three point jump shot (Kareem Thompson assists)
45-42
15:02
Zed Key turnover (lost ball)
14:53
Kevin Obanor misses three point jump shot
14:51
Duane Washington Jr. defensive rebound
14:47
Francis Lacis shooting foul (Zed Key draws the foul)
14:47
Zed Key misses regular free throw 1 of 2
14:47
Zed Key misses regular free throw 2 of 2
14:47
Kevin Obanor defensive rebound
14:24
Kareem Thompson misses three point jump shot
14:22
Musa Jallow defensive rebound
14:12
Zed Key misses two point hook shot
14:10
Kevin Obanor defensive rebound
14:01
Kevin Obanor misses three point jump shot
13:59
Justin Ahrens defensive rebound
13:41
Duane Washington Jr. misses three point jump shot
13:39
Kevin Obanor defensive rebound
13:25
Kevin Obanor misses two point fadeaway jump shot
13:23
Buckeyes defensive rebound
13:11
Duane Washington Jr. misses three point jump shot
13:09
DeShang Weaver defensive rebound
12:58
Duane Washington Jr. shooting foul (Max Abmas draws the foul)
12:58
+1
Max Abmas makes regular free throw 1 of 2
46-42
12:58
+1
Max Abmas makes regular free throw 2 of 2
47-42
12:47
Duane Washington Jr. turnover (Carlos Jurgens steals)
12:44
+2
Carlos Jurgens makes two point layup
49-42
12:24
Jump ball. E.J. Liddell vs. Max Abmas (Golden Eagles gains possession)
