Tulsa
Rice
Men's Basketball Rolls Over Rice, 79-56
2/8/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb 8, 2003
By CLAYTON BELLAMY
Associated Press Writer
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Dante Swanson scored 22 points to lead four Tulsa players in double figures as the Golden Hurricane snapped a three-game losing streak with a 79-56 victory Saturday over Rice.
Swanson found his missing 3-point touch, hitting 6-of-12 from behind the arc, as Tulsa (12-7, 5-5 WAC) beat the Owls for the second time this season.
Jason Parker and Kevin Johnson scored 12 points apiece for Tulsa, and Jarius Glenn added 11 in place of guard Antonio Reed, who was dismissed from the team Thursday for an undisclosed violation of team rules.
Jason McKrieth led Rice (13-7, 5-5) with 17 points. Owls' leading-scorer Omar-Seli Mance had 13 but was virtually shut down after scoring 8 points in the opening 5:16 of the first half.
Tulsa, the preseason favorite to win the WAC, got a much-needed win after losing six of its last 10 games. The guard-rich Golden Hurricane have struggled shooting from the outside, and teams have double-teamed Johnson, their best inside threat.
Tulsa started the second half with a 10-2 run to put the Owls away for good. Four Golden Hurricane players scored during the run, which put Tulsa ahead 36-29, and Tulsa forced three Owls turnovers.
Tulsa struggled early, falling down 21-8 in the first 10:48. The Golden Hurricane missed eight of its first 10 shots and turned the ball over six times early.
But Tulsa charged back with a 15-4 run fueled mostly by defense. Tulsa forced three turnovers in pulling within two at 25-23 on Swanson's 3-pointer.
Rice led 27-26 at halftime.
Tulsa held Rice to 20-of-55 shooting, or 36 percent, and forced 16 turnovers, including three shot-clock violations.
