Tulsa Trounces San Jose State, 78-54

1/24/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Kevin Johnson led all scorers with 20 points.

Jan 24, 2002

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Kevin Johnson scored 20 points as Tulsa beat San Jose State 78-54 Thursday night for its fifth consecutive Western Athletic Conference win.

Guards Greg Harrington and Dante Swanson, Tulsa's leading scorers, had just 2 and 5 points respectively.

But Johnson and the Tulsa bench, led by Jason Parker with 13, picked up the slack. Tulsa (15-3, 6-1 WAC) never trailed after taking a 9-0 lead early in the game and led 33-17 at halftime.

The first-half output was the lowest of the season by the Spartans (6-14, 1-7).

San Jose State cut the deficit to 11 with 14:11 to play, but Johnson scored inside and Antonio Reed hit consecutive jumpers to make it 51-34.

Tulsa's lead was never less than 14 thereafter.

Reed finished with 13 points and five assists.

Andre Valentine scored 17 points to lead San Jose State. Moises Alvarez added 12 and Marion Thurmond had 11.