OMAHA, Neb. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a decisive first-half surge and a resilient star performance, the Omaha Mavericks held off a persistent Oral Roberts squad for an 80-71 victory in Summit League men’s basketball action Wednesday night at Baxter Arena.

A crowd of 3,328 watched the Mavericks (15-14, 6-6) build a commanding 13-point halftime lead behind a blistering offensive display and then withstand multiple second-half charges from the Golden Eagles (6-22, 3-9) to secure the season sweep.

The most critical phase of the contest unfolded in the opening period, where Omaha’s offensive efficiency proved overwhelming. The Mavericks shot 51.5% from the field in the first half, including 7-of-15 from three-point range, to build a 43-30 advantage at the break. This cushion was built despite Oral Roberts shooting a respectable 50% themselves in the half, underscoring the volume and quality of Omaha’s early opportunities.

Omaha’s offensive rating of 119.0 for the game, fueled by 13 made three-pointers on 28 attempts, consistently kept Oral Roberts at arm’s length. The Golden Eagles, who finished with an offensive rating of 104.8, could never fully close the gap after the early deficit, though they cut it to single digits on several occasions in the second half.

The top star for Omaha was Ja’Sean Glover, who continued his recent scoring tear. The 6-foot-4 guard from Madelia, Minnesota, poured in a game-high 26 points in just 29 minutes, adding three assists. His performance was a model of efficiency and timing, often answering Oral Roberts runs with key baskets. Over his last three games, Glover has now averaged 20 points.

Oral Roberts was led by the backcourt duo of Ty Harper and Luke Gray. Harper, a 6-foot-3 guard from Norcross, Georgia, scored 20 points and dished out four assists in 34 minutes. Gray, a 6-foot-7 forward from Edmond, Oklahoma, was a force inside, also scoring 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting and recording a block.

The Mavericks’ supporting cast provided crucial balance. Grant Stubblefield of Overland Park, Kansas, orchestrated the offense with 13 points and a game-high six assists. Lance Waddles of Shreveport, Louisiana, added 14 points and three assists, while Valentino Simon of Nassau, Bahamas, contributed nine points, two blocks, and a game-high four offensive rebounds.

Omaha’s work on the glass was a decisive factor, as they outrebounded Oral Roberts 9-3 on the offensive end, leading to a 34-28 advantage in points in the paint. Both teams committed 13 turnovers, but Omaha was slightly more punishing, converting Golden Eagles’ miscues into 17 points.

The Golden Eagles, who have now lost four of their last five, showed fight in the second half, outscoring Omaha 41-37 after halftime. Harper and Gray combined for 31 of those points, and Connor Dow of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, chipped in nine points and four assists. Martins Kilups of Riga, Latvia, provided energy off the bench with six points and three assists.

Every time Oral Roberts threatened, however, Omaha had a response. A three-pointer from Dow brought the Golden Eagles within nine with 18:49 to play, but Omaha quickly pushed the lead back to 14. Later, a three-pointer by Harper cut the deficit to 65-58 with 9:07 remaining, but the Mavericks answered with a 7-2 spurt to restore a double-digit margin and effectively seal the game.

The victory moves Omaha to .500 in conference play and provides momentum for a two-game road swing next week. Oral Roberts returns home looking to snap its skid, having lost 10 of its last 11 games.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Omaha entered with a 93.3% probability to win and covered the pregame spread of -10. The Mavericks have now won four of the last five meetings between the two programs.