Etou Grabs Sixth Double-Double in 63-54 Win at USF on Sunday

Sunday, February 4

Tampa, FL

12 PM

Tulsa

13-10 (6-5AAC)

USF

8-16 (1-10AAC)

Tulsa

USF

Photo by: Dave Crenshaw

Etou Grabs Sixth Double-Double in 63-54 Win at USF on Sunday

2/4/2018 2:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Game Box (.pdf) | Game Box (html) | Season Stats (.pdf)

TAMPA, Fla. — Junior Etou recorded his sixth double-double of the season and fifth during American Athletic Conference play with 17 points and 12 rebounds to lead Tulsa to a 63-54 win at USF on Sunday afternoon.

Etou was joined in double-figures by DaQuan Jeffries, who came off the bench for 16 points and six boards for the Golden Hurricane (13-10, 6-5). With the victory, Tulsa moved into sole possession of fourth place in the league standings. Tulsa outrebounded the Bulls (8-16, 1-10), 44-32, and the visitors grabbed 18 offensive rebounds.

TU improved to 6-0 all-time against USF, who got a game-high 22 points from Stephan Jiggetts and another 11 from David Collins.

Tulsa led 28-23 at halftime, but saw that lead disappear when the Bulls opened the second half on a 10-2 run for a 33-30 edge with 15:44 to play. However, the Hurricane outscored USF 22-5 over the next six minutes to build its largest lead of the day, 52-38.

TU did much of its damage during the run at the free-throw line with 11 makes. Etou also had a 3-pointer and layup during the stretch, which featured back-to-back triples by Jeffries.

The Bulls went on an 11-3 run down the stretch to pull within 57-52 with 1:21 left on the clock. Tulsa ran the shot clock all the way down and Etou buried a 3-pointer with just 46 seconds remaining. The Hurricane salted the game away at the free-throw line for the 63-54 win.

Both teams experienced a cold-shooting first half and the squad traded runs over the first 20 minutes. After Lawson Korita got TU on the board first with a 3-pointer, the Bulls scored the next eight points to take the early advantage.

However, the Hurricane rattled off a 14-2 run to take its largest lead of the first-half, 17-10. Sterling Taplin and Elijah Joiner ignited the run with back-to-back 3-pointers before Jeffries and Jaleel Wheeler each scored inside. Wheeler and Jeffries then capped the spurt with a pair of free throws.

USF countered with an 11-0 run of its own before Tulsa outscored the home squad 11-2 over the final five minutes for a 28-23 halftime advantage. Again, it was Taplin that got the offense rolling with a layup that was followed by a layup and free throws by Curran Scott. Etou drained a 3-pointer and Jeffries drove in for a bucket just before the end of the half.

Tulsa will return to the Donald W. Reynolds Center for a 6 p.m. matchup with Tulane (13-8, 4-5) on Thursday, Feb. 8.

#ForOurCity