MACOMB, Ill. - It took two exhausting overtimes to decide Thursday night's Summit League showdown in Western Hall, and in the end it was the Golden Eagles of Oral Roberts who walked away victors, 71-70.
Oral Roberts improves to 15-4 overall and a perfect 7-0 in league play, while Western stands 9-6 after the loss, and 4-3 in Summit League games.
"It was a great game," said Western Illinois head coach Jim Molinari. "I feel bad for our guys, I thought we really fought. We just couldn't get over the hump. They are obviously an outstanding team. We just have to keep fighting for respect."
The last time Western played in a double-overtime game was on January 12, 2007, which was a loss at UMKC.
Senior guard Ceola Clark III finished with 10 assists, which ties his career-high, and 11 points for his first double-double this season. The only other time Clark had 10 assists was in the 2010-11 season-opener. Clark also tallied four steals and is now just two away from tying Western Illinois' program record.
Three other Leathernecks finished in double figures including, freshman forward Obi Emegano (17), junior forward Terell Parks (16), and sophomore center David Gebru (11). Parks and senior guard Tommie Tyler led the team with five rebounds each, while Gebru finished with a game-high three blocks.
Parks used monster block in the first minute to get the Leatherneck faithful off their feet, but Oral Roberts was able to capitalize moments later under the basket for the first two points of the game.
The two teams proceeded to exchange baskets until the second media timeout in the first when Clark was able to find Gebru open under the basket for the bucket and the foul. Gebru completed the three-point play, giving Western its first lead of the game, 9-8.
Two minutes later while Western was on a 4-0 run, Clark found Gebru open under the basket again, putting the Leathernecks up 13-8 midway through the first.
Western and Golden Eagles continued to battle throughout the remaining minutes of the first, but the Leathernecks held onto their lead until the 4:12 mark when the Golden Eagles' Warren Niles knocked down a jumper to knot things up at 21.
Clark broke the tie with a free throw the next time down the floor, and the Leathernecks would build their lead back up and head into the break with a five point advantage, 28-23.
Thanks for three personal fouls early in the game, Parks, who typically plays 28 minutes a game and leads the team in rebounds, was only able to play five minutes in the first.
Western came out firing in the second with Tyler hitting a tough jumper, followed up by Clark hitting Parks for an easy score, and Emegano connecting on a jumper of his own, pushing the Leathernecks lead to nine, 32-23.
ORU answered quickly with a 5-0 run of its own, but back-to-back field goals from the Leathernecks extended their lead back to eight points, 36-28, with 14:44 left in the game.
The hard fought contest continued with the Leathernecks clinging to a 40-36 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining in the second.
Western's four points came by way of aggressive slam dunks from Parks. The first when Tyler finished a pick-and-roll with a lob to Parks who finished with authority and on the second, Parks cleaned up a missed Leatherneck shot.
Junior forward Jack Houpt's first three-pointer of the game with just over eight minutes left in regulation put Western up 43-38.
Oral Roberts tied the game back up at 45 when senior forward Dominique Morrison hit a pair of free throws after a technical foul was called on Emegano. The Golden Eagles then recaptured the lead for the first time since early in the contest on a tip in from senior forward Michael Craion.
Heading into the final 45 seconds of regulation, the Golden Eagles held a two-point lead and had possession of the ball. Parks was able to force a jump ball and give Western the ball left with 28 second left on the clock.
Tyler was fouled with 10 seconds on the clock and knocked down both free throws to tie things up at 49.
Clark then snatched the ball away from the Golden Eagles, but missed a well-defended shot at the buzzer, forcing Western's first overtime of the season.
After four minutes of evenly matched basketball in the first overtime that saw Western down by two, Clark collected another late steal, this time driving in for the game-tying layup.
Gebru was called for a foul the next time down the floor and ORU sank both of its free throws to regain the two-point lead with 23 seconds left on the clock.
Tyler answered with two of his own with 11 seconds left on the clock, and after Morrison threw up a prayer that fell short, the game would head to double-overtime tied at 60.
The two teams battled back-and-forth to 70-70 score with 30 seconds to play when Morrison pulled up with a jumper and was fouled by Emegano with just 1.4 second on the clock. Morrison knocked down one free throw, essentially ending the game and giving ORU the 71-70 win.
Western (9-6, 4-3) will look to get back in the win column Saturday night at home against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds (8-9, 3-4). The two teams will get underway at 7 p.m.
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