Much of the season's third largest basketball crowd at Oral Roberts University remained in Mabee Center on Tuesday night, following ORU's season finale victory over Southern Utah, to hear farewell remarks by the seniors that were as remarkable as their revival of the program.

From Clifford Crenshaw's multiple page, prepared text to a five-second acknowledgement by Kevin Scruggs and touching tributes by Earl McClellan, James Kruse and Cody Porter (who became a student coach after a health problem forced him to quit playing), to their families, friends and coach Bill Self, they spoke with poise and correctness.

A man who notices these things pointed out that none of the seniors even once said "you know." In the '90s, that is tantamount to a team playing 10 games without a turnover.

Without exception, they spoke of their religious faith, gratitude and respect for each other. Self said they were on course to graduate. He did not need to remind anyone of how far they advanced on the scoreboard, from 6-21 in 1995 to 21-6 in 1997.

The obvious reasons for this turnabout are improved skills of the players and the coaching and leadership of Self. But the most important reason, Self said, for the success of the seniors and underclassmen was "they came here for the right reason; they have their priorities in order."

More than any ORU team, the 1996-97 Eagles came closest to being what Oral Roberts envisioned when he decreed three decades ago that basketball would be a vital voice for the University he built. These Eagles carried out Roberts' mission.

They led exemplary lifestyles. ("I never worried about getting a call that any of them was in trouble," Self said.) They prepared themselves educationally for useful lives. (McClellan plans to be an evangelist.) And, they won.

The first college game McClellan and Crenshaw played was also the first, at any level, for Self as a head coach. They came to ORU because it was their best or only option. Years of losing, instability and without credibility or fan support, ORU's program was as low as one could imagine when Self and his first recruits arrived.

They grew up together. They survived on faith and toughness. With each year of maturity and additional recruiting classes they quietly improved. In a span of 13 months, spanning the last two seasons, they lost their anonymity by shocking Tulsa, losing on a last- second shot at Arkansas, upsetting Arkansas and defeating Oklahoma State, while winning 31 of 37 games.

The most admirable characteristics about this team are chemistry and unselfishness. Scholarship limits, freshman eligibility and NBA money make it difficult for teams to play well together. Blue chip recruits have unrealistic expectations. Stars don't want to give up the ball. Freshmen become disillusioned if they don't start or play a lot. Happy teams are scarce.

The Eagles are an exception, probably because, as Self said, they came to ORU for the "right reason." Tim Gill, ORU's best player, came from across the street at Victory Christian because he wanted to attend a Christian school.

McClellan walked on from Providence, R.I., for the same reason after meeting Self in a Subway Restaurant. Kruse walked on from Everett, Mass., after his mother made a telephone appeal to Self. The other Eagles were local, state and area sleepers, unspoiled by recruiting and hype, and happy for an opportunity to play. They played like happy, selfless warriors who liked each other.

Self said Gill asked to not start the finale so that Kruse could start. Upon entering the game, Gill concentrated on passing rather than shooting. It is unfortunate that Tulsa, which spurned ORU after a series of coach firings and bad decisions in the '80s, did not rediscover and fully appreciate this team until the season was almost over. Tuesday night's crowd of 7,974 was the largest for a game featuring ORU (Games with Arkansas and OSU were larger) but average for TU and 2,300 under capacity.

Tulsans will get a chance to see the Eagles again if, as expected, they receive a bid to the NIT and get a first-round game at home. Whatever, the 4,000 or so fans who stayed around to hear the seniors' farewell remarks Tuesday night were left with a realization that some college seniors can speak and act as was well as they play games.

A tearful Self said of the seniors' postgame performance: "They were awesome. But they are awesome young people."

The Golden Eagles ended their regular season with a 21-6 record, the University's best at the Division I level in over a decade. ORU also received their first post season opportunity since 1984 with a berth in the NIT. The Eagles lost a tough, first-round match with Notre Dame, but they won recognition throughout the collegiate basketball community with regular- season victories over Arkansas and Oklahoma State.