October 2, 2005

TULSA ? Home games with Utah State, Missouri State and Tulsa, along with key road match-ups at Oklahoma, Minnesota and a trip to the Great Alaska Shootout highlight Oral Roberts University 2005-06 men's basketball schedule, which was officially announced today by head coach Scott Sutton.

Entering his seventh season at the helm of ORU Basketball, Sutton has put together arguably the Golden Eagles' toughest schedule in over a decade. ORU could play as many as eight games against post-season squads from a season ago.

Following exhibition games against Central Oklahoma (Nov. 5) and Northeastern State (Nov. 12), the Golden Eagles open the 2005-06 regular-season at home against Utah State on Nov. 19, the first game in a home-and-home series with the Aggies. Utah State (24-8) captured the Big West Tournament championship last season.

After taking on Utah State, the Golden Eagles visit Alaska to make their first-ever appearance in the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout, Nov. 23-26. ORU opens tournament play against Southern California (12-17) on Nov. 23, a game which will be televised live on ESPN2. The Golden Eagles take on either Eastern Washington (8-20) or NIT participant Marquette (19-12) in the second round. Host Alaska-Anchorage (11-16), Monmouth (16-13), 2005 NIT champion South Carolina (20-13) and perennial Missouri Valley Conference power and 2005 NCAA participant Southern Illinois (24-8) comprise the other side of the bracket in the eight-team field.

ORU returns home from Alaska to face NAIA member St. Gregory's (10-19) on Nov. 29, before hosting Tulsa (9-20) on Dec. 3 in the annual Mayor's Cup game. ORU will be looking for its third straight victory in the intra-city rivalry after last season's record-setting 70-47 win over the Golden Hurricane at the Reynolds Center.

Missouri State (19-13), which reached the NIT second round last season, visits Tulsa on Dec. 7 in a rematch of last season's 86-76 ORU win in the ESPN Bracket Buster series. The Bears are coached by former ORU boss Barry Hinson, and the trip to the Mabee Center is their first since 1984.

The Golden Eagles open a difficult road stretch in which ORU plays seven straight and eight of nine on the road by visiting Northern Colorado (8-21) on Dec. 11. ORU also visits NCAA First Round participant Louisiana-Lafayette (20-11) on Dec. 15, Utah State on Dec. 20, Oklahoma (25-8) on Dec. 28 and Minnesota on Dec. 31.

Mid-Continent Conference play begins on Jan. 2 when the Golden Eagles open defense of their regular-season crown at Chicago State. ORU concludes its lengthy road trip at Southern Utah on Jan. 4.

Other key Mid-Con match-ups include at Valparaiso on Jan. 9, Homecoming versus IUPUI on Jan. 14, Mid-Con title game rematches with Oakland on Jan. 19 (home) and Feb. 9 (away). The Golden Eagles close out regular-season play at home against Valparaiso on Feb. 25.

The Golden Eagles will take part in the ESPN Bracket Buster Saturday series for the second straight year on Feb. 18.

The Mid-Con Tournament is schedule for Mar. 4-7 at John Q. Hammons Arena in Tulsa.

The Golden Eagles return 10 letter winners and four starters from last season's team which captured the Mid-Con regular-season title, posted a 25-8 record and advanced to the NIT.

--ORU--