There is no other event like this, certainly no more magical month than March, where dreams can come true for dreamers from any school anywhere, where if you believe enough, you can also be Cinderella, even if no one else more believe in you.
You can be the 4th seed in your Summit League tournament, and you can finish as the second seed (15) – Florida Gulf Coast was the other – to advance to Sweet 16.
If Loyala Chicago could bring down Illinois No. 1, did you know that there was nothing that could stop Oral Roberts from being the Comeback Kids, recovering from an 11-point deficit in the second half and claiming the title of Destiny’s Darlings with an 81- Victory of 78 that set fire to the Mabee Center Watch Party in Tulsa.
“We put on our shoes as soon as they do,” said Kevin Obanor, repeating his post-game line after the Ohio State game. “We just came out with the mentality of, ‘If you feel better than we do, just try it.’ “
The state of Ohio could not prove it. Florida couldn’t prove it. Then Arkansas will try to prove it to the Golden Eagles.
“I know a lot of people didn’t believe it, but we are making history,” said Obanor. “You haven’t even realized that we’re going to Sweet 16. This is something that a child could only imagine, and it’s finally happening.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity, but you could say that we are the destroyers of brackets for sure.”
Obanor, a 1.80m Houston redshirt junior who was recruited by Arkansas, scored 28 points and sidekick Max Abmus added 26 and ORU fans inside the Indiana Farmers Coliseum started shouting “Cinderella”. Obanor scored 30 against the state of Ohio; Abmus scored 29 points.
It was a 25-11 run on the stretch that devastated the Gators.
“Not only do we allow people to put a number behind our school and just tell us that we can’t do this and that, that’s not what courageous people do,” said Obanor, “let’s prove that people are wrong. “
The Golden Eagles lost 67-56 when Obanor converted a four-point play and Abmus hit a pair of free throws to make the Gators very nervous.
A stop by Carlos Jurgens after an upset brought Oral Roberts in 74-73.
When Obanor hit a short jump hook, the Golden Eagles led 77-76 with just under three minutes remaining.
“It’s March,” Mills reminded his team. “That’s when the players make plays.”
A huge corner 3 by DJ Weaver gave ORU an 81-78 lead. He was goalless by then.
“I said, ‘DJ, you’re going to have a chance to win or put us up, I need you to drop this 3,'” said Mills. “That boy is not afraid.”
Trey Mann of Florida missed a last 3 seconds and a desperate prayer from Scottie Lewis failed.
“We are not done yet. We still have unfinished business, ”said Obanor.
The Gators led 42-37 at halftime, even with 10 turnovers, largely because the Golden Eagles were 5-20 from downtown Tulsa.
Mann and Noah Locke combined 21 of the Florida points.
Abmas (16 points) kept the Golden Eagles on the hunt.
The Gators dominated the exchanges with a 23-10 lead.
“Our coach was telling us that we have to box more and play more physically,” said Obanor. “He looked us in the eye and said that this is our game, we have to win. And we all believed that we could win. “
First sister Jean for Loyola Chicago. Divine intervention in Oral Roberts?
“We are going to let God take care of this,” said Obanor, “and everything will happen naturally.”
Naturally.