Tulsa Outlasts Oklahoma State on Wednesday Night, 74-71

Wednesday, December 5

Reynolds Center

7 PM

Tulsa

6-3

Oklahoma State

4-4

Oklahoma State

Tulsa

Photo by: Dave Crenshaw

Tulsa Outlasts Oklahoma State on Wednesday Night, 74-71

12/5/2018 10:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

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TULSA, Okla. — DaQuan Jeffries scored 20 points and Tulsa held off a late charge from Oklahoma State for a 74-71 win over the Cowboys on Wednesday at the Donald W. Reynolds Center.

Jeffries went 6-of-8 from the floor and 8-of-9 at the free-throw line for his second game of at least 20 points this season for the Golden Hurricane (6-3), who improved to 6-0 at home. In all, Tulsa has now won its last 12 home games and 21 of its last 23 contests in the Reynolds Center.

Jeriah Horne came off the bench to score a season-best 16 points to go along with seven rebounds, while Lawson Korita (13 points/7 rebounds) and Martins Igbanu (10 points/8 rebounds) also scored in double-figures.

"As I said on the pregame about playing these types of games, the two things it does for you is that it prepares you for conference play and it gives you an opportunity for an at-large bid by playing quality teams," head coach Frank Haith said. "They (OSU) are going to win a lot of Big 12 games. You look at what they've done already. They beat Memphis by 20, they beat LSU, who was a top-20 team. They'll win their share of games so this was a great, great win for us."

Tulsa outscored the Cowboys (4-4) in the paint 34-18 and TU forced 17 miscues by the visitors. The Hurricane turned it over just 11 times, including twice in the second half.

"They're a good team, and that was a great win for us," Korita said. "We have another one coming up on Saturday. So we have to worry about the next one."

Mike Cunningham came off the bench to lead Oklahoma State with 14 points. Thomas Dziagwa and Lindy Waters each finished with a dozen.

Oklahoma State hit 11 3-pointers, including three in the final minute to keep it close until the final buzzer.

Tulsa extended a 30-29 halftime lead with a 9-0 run, with points from four different players, to start the second half.

Curran Scott started the run with a triple following an offensive rebound from Jeffries. Sterling Taplin then knocked in two free throws before an offensive rebound and putback from Igbanu. Jeffries then capped the run with a layup that brought the crowd of 7,145 to its feet and gave the Hurricane a 39-29 cushion.

Tulsa would lead by as much as 12 during the second half and the lead hovered in and around double-digits for most of the final 20 minutes.

However, the Cowboys made a run down the stretch and trimmed the deficit to 63-61 with 1:10 left on the clock after a 7-0 spurt.

With about a minute remaining, Jeffries had perhaps the play of game. Taplin found the senior under the basket and Jeffries finished a dunk through contact. He completed the old-fashioned three-point play for a 66-61 advantage.

"Tap drove the ball, found the open spot and got it to me," Jeffries said. "And I finished it."

That's when the Cowboys caught fire from behind the arc, but Tulsa was able to offset OSU's three triples in the final minute by going 8-for-8 from the line in the final 35 seconds to seal the 74-71 win.

In the opening half, Oklahoma State led by as much as seven during the first eight minutes. TU rattled off a 9-0 run to tie the game at 11 and would take its first lead on Horne's 3-pointer, as the sophomore scored 11 points in the first half.

Tulsa will return to the Reynolds Center for a matchup with No. 15/16 Kansas State at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8.

Fans are encouraged to bring a stuffed teddy bear for a halftime teddy bear toss. The stuffed animals will be donated to St. Francis Children's Hospital.

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