Mid-Continent Conference Tournament: No. 1 Oral Roberts is within a game of earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament after powering past No. 4 Valparaiso 77-58. Junior forward Caleb Green led the Golden Eagles with 23 points, including eight critical points during an 11-4 run early in the second half that extended a four-point lead to 11. Valparaiso couldn’t answer the run, and Oral Roberts held off the Crusaders the rest of the way. Oral Roberts will play No. 6 Chicago State in the championship Tuesday.
Chicago State became this season’s unlikely Mid-Continent championship participant by beating No. 2 IUPUI 57-53. Last season, No. 7 Oakland stormed the conference tournament and beat Oral Roberts in the championship game to claim an NCAA Tournament bid. The Golden Eagles probably still have that sour taste fresh in their minds. Desipite starting the season 1-14, the Cougars have ended strong, winning six of their last seven.
[3/06/06]
