Tulsa
Houston
Tulsa's Free Throws Sink Houston, 77-68
2/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 25, 2009
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TULSA, Okla. (AP)--Jerome Jordan scored 23 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and had four blocks as Tulsa defeated Houston 77-68 to move within one-half game of Alabama-Birmingham in the hunt for second place in Conference USA behind unbeaten Memphis.
Tulsa, 9-4 and 19-9 overall, made 20 of 27 free throws in the final 6:45 as Houston fouled relentlessly, usually before Tulsa had crossed mid-court. Jordan made 10 of 13 charity tosses and seven-of-eight field goals.
Kelvin Lewis scored 24 points for Houston, 8-5 and 17-9. Aubrey Coleman scored 12, eight below his 20-point average. He made just five-of-21 field goals while guarded by Tulsa defensive stopper Ray Reese.
"Ray did an outstanding job," said Tulsa coach Doug Wojcik of his only senior starter. "He's really developed into a tremendous defender. We're going to miss him."
Houston trailed 55-50 with 6:55 to play when it went into an aggressive full-court press that resulted in a parade to the foul line for Tulsa. Tulsa made 30 of 38 second-half free throws after going one-for-two in the first half.
Reese had 13 points, Justin Hurtt 12 and Ben Uzoh had 12 points and eight rebounds as Tulsa out-rebounded the Cougars 39-30.
Tulsa shot 51 percent on just 43 attempts while limiting Houston to 37 percent shooting (26-69).
Houston coach Tom Penders said he told his team to go hard for steals and, if unsuccessful, foul.
"We had a 10-point lead on Arizona with 52 seconds left and they just kept fouling us and then making threes and we lost in overtime," he said. "You can lose a lead just like that. Tulsa made its free throws and did a lot of good things to close out the game."
