College hoops doubleheader in Tulsa

Doug Eaton

Much like Christmas, the gift of seeing both of Tulsa's Division I college basketball teams play on the same day comes around only about once a year.

This Saturday, local college basketball fans can unwrap that gift and catch both teams in action.

Not only that, but the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane and the Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles are both on the verge of claiming a regular season championship for their respective conferences.

A nationally televised game, bobblehead giveaway, a record-breaking coach, free t-shirts, and senior night are a few of the additional promotions these games will provide in addition to the outstanding play on the court.

The ORU Golden Eagles start the day with a 1 p.m. Bracket Buster game at the Mabee Center against the Akron University Zips. (Little known fact: the Zips' mascot originated from the old rubber overshoes, called "zippers," that were popular back in the 1920s and manufactured by the B.F. Goodrich Company, whose corporate headquarters was in Akron.)

The Golden Eagles, 23-5 overall and 15-1 in league play entering Wednesday's game, can clinch the Summit League conference championship with a victory in any of their remaining conference games. ORU has won 22 consecutive home games for the nation’s third-longest home court winning streak.

The game will be televised live on ESPN2. To add to the festive atmosphere, ORU is promoting a "white-out" for the TV audience with a free white t-shirt draped over every seat in the lower bowl for fans to wear during the game.

The first 2,500 fans at the game will also receive a bobblehead of ORU senior Dominique Morrison, the fourth leading scorer in the Summit League.

Since this is ORU's last home game, seniors Robert Aery, Roderick Pearson, Morrison and Michael Craion will be recognized in a post-game ceremony.

Hoops action then continues at 11th & Harvard where the TU Golden Hurricane will face the Rice Owls at 7 p.m. in the Reynolds Center.

The Hurricane, 15-10 overall and 8-3 in league play entering Wednesday night's game, are in a fierce three-way battle with the University of Memphis and Southern Mississippi for the Conference USA regular season crown.

Fresh from breaking the record for the most wins by a TU basketball coach with 138 victories, head coach Doug Wojcik hopes to take another important step toward the conference crown.

Led by super sophomore Jordan Clarkson, who has scored in double digits for 22 consecutive games, the longest streak in the league this season. Junior Scottie Haralson is the other Golden Hurricane averaging in double figures with 11.3 points per game average.

Have a merry Hoops Day!