By CHARLIE PARENT
Fan favorite Oral Roberts is back in the NCAA Tournament after just two years.
The Golden Eagles routed North Dakota State 92-58 in the Summit League Championship thanks to an 18-3 run out the gate to earn the program’s seventh tournament appearance ever.
Oral Roberts became the second 15-seed ever to make the Sweet 16 back in the 2020-2021 season but this year they will pick up a much higher seeding with hopes of another big run.
At 30-4, the Golden Eagles have won 17 in a row and posted an 18-0 record in Summit League play. They last lost on January 9th at the hands of New Mexico and before that hadn’t lost since November 22nd. Their four total losses all come against Quad 1 teams (Houston, St. Mary’s, Utah State, New Mexico).
Senior guard Max Abmas, who averaged 26.7 points per game in Oral Roberts’ 2021 run, remains the star of the team averaging 22 this season. He put up 26 points and 11 assists in the championship game.
“It’s a testament to all the hard work we put in,” Abmas said on ESPN postgame. “All the long hours in the gym, all the practices, it all paid off man. This is what we all wanted.”
7-foot-5 Arkansas transfer Connor Vanover is another name to watch in the tournament as he averages 13 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks per game.
Oral Roberts was listed as a 12-seed in Joe Lunardi’s recent bracketology but could jump to the 11 spot come Sunday.
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