Golden Hurricane Put Unbeaten Mark On the Line Against Shockers
12/4/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 4, 2002
The 19th-ranked Golden Hurricane (3-0) is coming off a 61-60 win against Arkansas on Saturday. After Kevin Johnson's free throw gave Tulsa a six-point lead with 2? minutes left, the Golden Hurricane went scoreless the rest of the way.
Dribbling down the clock during its final possession, Tulsa gave Arkansas one final chance when Jason Parker missed a 15-footer with five seconds left. However, the Razorbacks' desperation heave from just inside halfcourt bounced off the backboard and rim, preserving the win for the Golden Hurricane.
"The only way we could lose the game was if we take a quick shot at that point," Tulsa coach John Phillips said. "Once I realized that the difference was five seconds, we called time and set up to shoot at the last second."
Antonio Reed paced the Golden Hurricane with 17 points, and Johnson had 13 points and eight rebounds.
"We seemed to get too relaxed and let them get back in the game and almost come away with a win," said Tulsa guard Dante Swanson, who scored 16 points.
Tulsa, which played in the Missouri Valley Conference from 1934-96, has a 58-57 edge in the all-time series with Wichita State. The Golden Hurricane have won 11 straight meetings since a 77-76 overtime loss at Wichita, Kan., on Jan. 30, 1993.
The Shockers (2-1) will be looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season, as they come off a 76-71 loss to Oral Roberts on Saturday.
Jamar Howard had 27 points and nine rebounds to lead Wichita State. Rob Kampman added 14 points, including a pair of 3-pointers.
Howard averages a team-high 19.7 points, while Aaron Hogg and Jamie Sowers lead the Shockers with 4.7 rebounds per game.
