Tulsa
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UTEP
Tulsa Falls, 78-70, to UTEP Saturday
2/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 20, 2010
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Ben Uzoh scored 22 points and Jerome Jordan scored a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds, but it was not enough as Tulsa dropped a 78-70 decision to UTEP Saturday afternoon at the Donald W. Reynolds Center.
The Golden Hurricane (19-8, 8-5 C-USA) trailed by 17 at halftime, 43-26, but outscored the Miners (20-5, 11-1 C-USA), 44-35 in the second half. TU shot 38 percent from the field, including 50 percent in the second half, but the effort was not enough, as UTEP shot 51 percent from the field in the ballgame.
Justin Hurtt added 15 points for Tulsa, while Joe Richard and Donte Medder each pitched in five points. Uzoh, Jordan and Hurtt combined to score 56 of the Hurricane's 70 points. UTEP had four players in double figures, led by Randy Culpepper with 29 points and Derrick Caracter with 16 points.
Tulsa outrebounded the Miners, 40-33, including 19-9 on the offensive boards. The Hurricane shot 18-for-27 from the free throw line and 6-of-19 from three-point range.
The Golden Hurricane cut a 20-point early second half deficit to seven points on two separate occasions, but was unable to break through and pull any closer. TU outscored UTEP, 28-15, over 10-and-a-half minutes to move within seven points with 8:27 remaining.
After a series of missed baskets over the next four minutes, Tulsa again found itself down by just seven points, 65-58, with 4:15 left in the game. However, the Miners and Hurricane continued to trade baskets down the stretch, as UTEP walked away with the 78-70 win.
Tulsa hits the road for two games next week, playing at Duke Thursday at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN, and at East Carolina Saturday at 6 p.m. CT.
