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The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles are the sixteen intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Oral Roberts University, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The men's basketball team has had notable successes, including appearances in seven NCAA tournaments, eight National Invitation Tournaments, and one College Basketball Invitational. They have won seven regular-season conference championships and six tournament championships. The team competes in the Summit League, which they officially joined in 2014, and have had several memorable wins, including a 2006 upset victory over the University of Kansas and a 2021 upset over Ohio State.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the team | Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team |
| University | Oral Roberts University |
| Location | Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| League | Summit League |
| Previous leagues | Southland Conference, Midwestern Collegiate Conference, Mid-Continent Conference |
| Number of NCAA Tournament appearances | 7 |
| Number of NIT appearances | 8 |
| Number of CBI appearances | 1 |
| Number of CIT appearances | 2 |
| Number of conference championships | 7 |
| Number of tournament championships | 6 |
| Coach | Paul Mills |
| Previous coach | Scott Sutton |
| Mascot | Eli the Golden Eagle |
| Arena | Mabee Center |
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What You'll Learn
The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles basketball team
The Golden Eagles play their home games at the Mabee Center, which has been their home arena since 1972. The center features an elliptical cable-suspension structure specifically designed with basketball in mind and offers unobstructed views for its 10,575 permanent theater seats.
In the 2006–07 season, the unranked Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team pulled off an impressive upset, defeating the #3 ranked University of Kansas at the Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas, by a score of 78–71. They went on to win the Mid-Con conference championship that season, defeating #2 seeded Oakland despite an 11-point halftime deficit. The Golden Eagles have continued to make their mark in the Summit League, capturing the league title three consecutive times from 2006 to 2008.
The team has also had notable success in recent years, reaching the NCAA Tournament in 2021 and advancing to the Sweet Sixteen. This run included a memorable victory over Ohio State, where Francis Lācis's crucial block and steal in the closing seconds secured a 75–72 overtime win. The Golden Eagles followed this up with another win over the Florida Gators, making them the second No. 15 seed in history to advance to the regional semifinal round.
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Summit League membership
The Summit League, or The Summit, is an NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletic conference with its membership mostly located in the Midwestern United States. The league headquarters are in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The membership currently consists of nine full members plus six associate members.
The Summit League sponsors 19 sports, nine men's and 10 women's, and no longer sponsors football. All current Summit members sponsor men's cross country except Denver and Omaha. All current Summit members except Denver sponsor women's cross country.
The most recent change in the core conference membership is the 2021 arrival of the University of St. Thomas, which began an unprecedented transition from NCAA Division III to Division I. A year earlier, the University of Missouri–Kansas City returned as a full member after a seven-year absence with the new athletic identity of the Kansas City Roos. Purdue University Fort Wayne left for the Horizon League in 2020.
In 2025, Delaware and UMass joined the league as affiliate members in men's soccer. Among former Summit members, Chicago State, Northern Iowa, Southern Utah, Troy State (now Troy), and Youngstown State did not sponsor men's soccer while in the conference.
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NCAA Tournament appearances
The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team has made appearances in seven NCAA Tournaments, with a combined record of 4-7 across those tournaments. The team, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, ended a 13-year drought when they reached the NCAA Tournament in 2021, pulling off an upset by defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 75-72 in overtime. This was their first tournament game victory since 1974. They then beat the Florida Gators 81-78 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, becoming the second No. 15 seed to reach this stage, before falling to the Arkansas Razorbacks 72-70.
The Golden Eagles have a rich history in NCAA Tournament appearances, dating back to their first appearance in 1974. They have also hosted four other NCAA regionals at the Mabee Center in Tulsa, in 1975, 1978, 1982, and 1985. The team's most recent NCAA Tournament appearance was in 2023, showcasing their consistent qualification for the prestigious tournament.
In addition to their NCAA Tournament success, the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles have also achieved notable accomplishments in other competitions. They have appeared in eight National Invitation Tournaments (NIT), showcasing their consistent performance in invitational tournaments. The team has also participated in one College Basketball Invitational and two CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournaments.
The Golden Eagles have a proud history in NCAA Tournaments, with several memorable victories and close calls. In one notable season, ORU came within three points of advancing to the Final Four, showcasing their potential to challenge for the highest honours. The team has also won seven regular-season conference championships and six tournament championships, solidifying their reputation as a force to be reckoned with in college basketball.
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NIT appearances
The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team has had several NIT appearances over the years. The team has appeared in the National Invitation Tournament eight times, with their first appearance coming in 1972, and the most recent in 2012. The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles represent Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and are members of the Summit League.
The Golden Eagles have had a number of notable NIT appearances, including their first-ever NIT appearance in 1972, and again in 1973, 1975, 1977, 1982, 1997, 2005, and 2012. In the 1980-81 season, the team relied on a mix of young and experienced players to qualify for the NIT, with freshman center Mark Acres leading the team in scoring and rebounding. In their 1997 NIT appearance, the Golden Eagles faced Memphis State in the first round, winning 97-95, before losing to Oregon 68-59 in a closely contested match.
The 2005 NIT saw the Golden Eagles return with a strong regular-season record of 21-6. Senior forward Anthony 'Woosie' Roberts put on a record-setting performance, scoring 65 points in a thrilling 90-89 loss to Oregon. Woosie's scoring average of 34.0 points per game that season was the second-highest in the nation, and his performance earned him consensus All-American honors.
The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles have had a rich history in the NIT, with their eight appearances showcasing the team's resilience and talent. Despite not winning an NIT championship, the team has left its mark on the tournament, with players like Anthony Roberts and Mark Acres stepping up to lead the team on multiple occasions.
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History of the team name and mascot
Oral Roberts University, a private evangelical university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was founded in 1963 by televangelist Granville Oral Roberts. The university's athletic teams, comprising 16 intercollegiate teams, are called the Golden Eagles. The team colours are blue and gold.
The team name was changed to the Golden Eagles in 1993, replacing the previous nicknames, the Titans for men and the Lady Titans for women. The original nicknames were chosen in 1965 by a student body vote, with many students being fans of the New York Titans (now known as the Jets) football team.
The Golden Eagles mascot is "Eli" the Golden Eagle, who hatched from a papier-mâché egg. The team has had notable success in basketball, with seven appearances in the NCAA Tournaments, eight National Invitation Tournaments, and two CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournaments. The team has also won seven regular-season conference championships and six tournament championships.
In 2021, the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team made headlines by becoming only the second 15th-seed team to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, after defeating Ohio State and Florida. This was their fifth appearance in March Madness and first in over a decade.
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Frequently asked questions
The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles are a part of the Summit League.
Oral Roberts University officially joined the Summit League on July 1, 2014.
Yes, Oral Roberts has previously been a part of the Southland Conference, the Midwestern Collegiate Conference, and the Mid-Continent Conference (now known as the Summit League).
The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles have won four conference championships in the Summit League and have appeared in the Summit League Tournament multiple times.
