.png)
.png)
Tulsa
Northeastern Oklahoma
Tulsa Rolls Over Northeastern State, 67-44
1/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 3, 2009
Final Stats | Final Stats 
|
Quotes
TULSA, Okla. - Ray Reese scored 17 points, Ben Uzoh added 16 and Jerome Jordan tallied a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead The University of Tulsa men's basketball team to a 67-44 victory over Northeastern State University Saturday afternoon at the Donald W. Reynolds Center.
The Golden Hurricane held NSU to just 31 percent shooting (15-of-49) for the game, including 27 percent in the first half, while allowing just 20 points in the first half and 24 in the second. Meanwhile, TU shot 44 percent (28-of-64) from the floor and out-rebounded the Riverhawks 45-31 including 12-3 on the offensive boards. Uzoh also added five rebounds and five assists for the Hurricane.
"It was a hard-fought game," Tulsa head coach Doug Wojcik said. "I give them a lot of credit with their five-man motion offense because they make you play defense for 25 to 30 seconds. Their possessions are really long and I asked our guys to stay with their defense, and I thought we did a good job of that. With all of their motion, there is a tendency to give up a lot of offensive rebounds and we only gave up three offensive rebounds today. I was real pleased with our defense."
In addition, the Hurricane offense totaled nine assists and just nine turnovers, scoring 15 points off of 14 NSU turnovers. TU also dominated points in the paint 30-16, second chance points 10-0, and fast break points 12-2.
NSU scored the first bucket of the second half on a layup, then Tulsa took its largest lead of the game to that point at 36-22 when Bishop Wheatley was fouled making a layup and hit the ensuing free throw. The Hurricane then extended its lead to 46-26 at the 13:48 mark when Reese made his third three-pointer of the contest.
A fast break layup by Ben Uzoh off of a Jordan steal capped a 14-4 run for the Golden Hurricane, which extended its lead to 20 points at 50-30 with 10:31 remaining in the game. Tulsa's defense held NSU to just one made field goal during almost four-and-a-half minutes from the 8:53 mark until 4:30 left in the game.
TU took a 67-39 lead - the 28 point margin its largest of the contest - with 3:12 remaining, and did not score again, but the game was already in hand and the Hurricane came out on top 67-44.
"We were a little slow offensively from time-to- time, but I thought we did a good job of getting the ball inside and not shooting too many three-pointers," Wojcik said. "We had a nice balance between inside touches and perimeter shots. It was also the fourth or fifth straight game that we have taken care of the basketball with only nine turnovers."
The game opened a bit closer than most Golden Hurricane faithful would have liked, as NSU took a 4-2 lead and the teams battled to a 6-6 tie six-and-a-half minutes into the game. However, Tulsa went on a 7-0 run to take a 13-6 lead. Refusing to go down easily, the Riverhawks, aided by back-to-back three-pointers, fought back to within one point at 15-14 with 7:26 left in the half.
Tulsa then scored four straight, and after an NSU basket, Reese hit back-to-back three-pointers of his own to give TU a 25-16 lead. In all, the Hurricane closed the half on an 18-6 run over the final seven-and-a-half minutes and went into the locker room leading by a 33-20 score.
The Golden Hurricane opens Conference USA play Wednesday when it travels to Hattiesburg, Miss., to take on Southern Miss. All Tulsa men's basketball news and information can be found online at www.TulsaHurricane.com.
