STILLWATER, Okla. – The Saint Joseph's men's tennis team fell to Oral Roberts on Friday, going the distance but ultimately dropping a 4-3 result.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Oral Roberts took the early lead via wins in the second and third doubles flights.  Othman Bezzaz and Ernesto Ruy led their top-flight match, 4-3, when play was halted.
 
• The Hawks claimed their points in singles play as Santiago Valle rolled to a win in straight sets in the second flight and Jakob Gaudreau Barnes topped his opponent in straight sets in the sixth.
 
• Ernesto Ruy outlasted his opponent in a three-setter in the fifth, but the Golden Eagles took the remaining three flights to secure the match.

HAWK TALK
"It was a heartbreaker today," head coach Jeff Puhan said.  "Credit Oral Roberts.  They wanted it more today.  We came out flat in the doubles and couldn't regroup on all the courts.  Freshman Damir Abdusamadov's match was the decider three hours later, dropping a tough one 7-6 in the third.  We are young and will improve every match.  We have a doubleheader tomorrow, so we need to prepare."
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks will take on UTRGV and Oklahoma State on Saturday.
 
RESULTS
 
Oral Roberts 4, Saint Joseph's 3
 
Doubles
1. #70 Othman Bezzaz / Ernesto Ruy (SJU) led Ricardo Filho / Parv Nage (ORU), 4-3, unfinished
2. Cayden Cheek / Pijus Reklevicius (ORU) def. Damir Abdusamanov / Santiago Valle (SJU), 6-1
3. Jack Berry / Rodrigo Guijarro (ORU) def. Davi Carlos / Jakob Gaudreau Barnes (SJU), 6-2
Order of Finish: 2, 3
 
Singles
1. Filho (ORU) def. Bezzaz (SJU), 6-2, 6-2
2. Valle (SJU) def. Nage (ORU), 6-1, 6-2
3. Luis Marcos Bonifasi (ORU) def. Abdusamadov (SJU), 7-6 (11), 1-6, 7-6 (4)
4. Guijarro (ORU) def. Carlos (SJU), 6-2, 7-6 (3)
5. Ruy (SJU) def. Reklevicius (ORU), 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
6. Gaudreau Barnes (SJU) def. Lucas Couy (ORU), 6-2, 6-3
Order of Finish: 2, 6, 5, 4, 1, 3