PHOTOS: Oral Roberts blasts Bison for Summit League tournament title, trip to Big Dance
The Golden Eagles scored 51 points in the first half to power past NDSU and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I tournament.
North Dakota State guard Boden Skunberg drives around an Oral Roberts defender in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Oral Roberts torched North Dakota State with 51 points in the first half and the Bison never recovered Tuesday night at the Denny Sanford Premier Center.
Top-seeded Oral Roberts rolled to a 92-58 victory to win the Summit League men's basketball championship and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I tournament.
The Golden Eagles (30-4) posted a 21-0 record against Summit League opponents this season, counting three wins in the conference tournament. ORU guard Max Abmas scored a game-high 26 points. The Golden Eagles shot 56% (18 of 32) from the field in the opening half to build a 31-point halftime lead.
Boden Skunberg paced the No. 3-seeded Bison with 18 points and eight rebounds. NDSU shot 32% (19 of 59) from the field and 15% (2 of 13) from 3-point range for the game.
Below are scene's from the championship game:
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Damari Wheeler-Thomas (10) of the North Dakota State Bison dribbles down the court against the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Richard Carlson/Inertia
North Dakota State forward Grant Nelson, right, drives against Oral Roberts guard Max Abmas in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Richard Carlson/Inertia
David Richman, head coach of the North Dakota State Bison watches from the sideline against the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Dave Eggen/Inertia
Max Abmas (3) of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles races Boden Skunberg (14) of the North Dakota State Bison to the basket in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Dave Eggen/Inertia
Grant Nelson (4) of the North Dakota State Bison darts to the basket around Kareem Thompson (2) of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Dave Eggen/Inertia
Carlos Jurgens (11) of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles layups the ball against Grant Nelson (4) of the North Dakota State Bison in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Richard Carlson/Inertia
North Dakota State Bison Andrew Morgan, left, and Josh Streit watch in disappointment against the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Dave Eggen/Inertia
Kareem Thompson (2) of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles holds up champions shirt after winning game against the North Dakota State Bison, 92-58, in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Dave Eggen/Inertia
North Dakota State forward Josh Streit tries to shoot over Oral Roberts center Connor Vanover in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Miranda Sampson/Inertia
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles celebrate during timeout in game against the North Dakota State Bison in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Dave Eggen/Inertia
Grant Nelson (4) of the North Dakota State Bison darts to the basket against Connor Vanover (35) and Kareem Thompson (2) of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Central Cass, Des Lacs-Burlington, Beulah and Bismarck Shiloh Christian were among the teams Friday night vying for a spot in the Class B state championship game
Grant Nelson (4) of the North Dakota State Bison fights to get around Kareem Thompson (2) of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Richard Carlson/Inertia
Max Abmas (3) of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles handles the ball under pressure from North Dakota State Bison in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Richard Carlson/Inertia
Oral Roberts forward Patrick Nwamba drives against North Dakota State in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Richard Carlson/Inertia
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles guard Kareem Thompson (2) celebrates during a timeout in game against the North Dakota State Bison in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Dave Eggen/Inertia
The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles bench celebrates during game against the North Dakota State Bison in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Dave Eggen/Inertia
Grant Nelson (4) of the North Dakota State Bison looks to pass the ball around DeShang Weaver (14) of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Richard Carlson/Inertia
Patrick Mwamba (32) of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles leaps for a layup over Andrew Morgan (23) of the North Dakota State Bison in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Dave Eggen/Inertia
Carlos Jurgens (11) of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles fights for control of the ball against the North Dakota State Bison in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Richard Carlson/Inertia
Boden Skunberg (14) of the North Dakota State Bison searches for an open teammate while under pressure by Carlos Jurgens (11) of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Miranda Sampson/Inertia
DeShang Weaver (14) of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles slam dunks the ball against the North Dakota State Bison in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Hannah Owens/Inertia
North Dakota State guard Damari Thomas-Wheeler (10) elevates for a rebound against the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Dave Eggen/Inertia
Paul Mills, head coach of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles, watches from the sideline against the North Dakota State Bison in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Miranda Sampson/Inertia
Andrew Morgan (23) of the North Dakota State Bison looks to make a move against the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles in the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Miranda Sampson/Inertia
Oral Roberts celebrates its 92-58 victory against the North Dakota State Bison for the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Dave Eggen/Inertia
Connor Vanover (35) of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles and Andrew Morgan (23) of the North Dakota State Bison leap for the ball during the opening tip-off at the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Dave Eggen/Inertia
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles celebrates after championship game win against the North Dakota State Bison, 92-58, at the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Dave Eggen/Inertia
Paul Mills, head coach of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles, speaks during press conference after championship game against the North Dakota State Bison at the Summit League men's basketball championship Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Peterson covers college athletics for The Forum, including Concordia College and Minnesota State Moorhead. He also covers the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks independent baseball team and helps out with North Dakota State football coverage. Peterson has been working at the newspaper since 1996.
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