Short-handed Tulsa Falls on the Road to UCF 83-75

Sunday, February 9

Orlando, Fla.

1 PM

Tulsa

15-8,7-3AAC

UCF

13-10,4-7AAC

Tulsa

UCF

Photo by: Bill Powell

Short-handed Tulsa Falls on the Road to UCF 83-75

2/9/2020 4:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

BOX SCORE I SEASON STATS

ORLANDO, Fla. – Tulsa's comeback bid fell short Sunday afternoon as the Golden Hurricane could not overcome a 19-point second half deficit, falling to the UCF Knights by a final of 83-75 in front of 5,349 fans at the Addition Financial Arena. The Hurricane cut the gap to 4 points with just 0:14 remaining in the game.

Martins Igbanu recorded his first 30-point game scoring a career-high on 12-16 (75%) shooting from the floor and 5-6 (83%) from the free throw line for 30 points. Igbanu scored 20 of his points in the second half, 43-percent of Tulsa's 46 second half points.

Igbanu's previous career-high came in Tulsa's last outing against the UConn Huskies when he put in 29 points in a 72-56 loss.

Lawson Korita also scored in double-figures with 12 points on 4-7 (57%) shooting from the field and 2-4 (50%) from behind the arc. Darien Jackson and Jeriah Horne both had 9 points.

The Hurricane scored 40 paint points putting in their largest margin of the season at 36 points, holding UCF to 14 points in the paint., however, the Knights connected on 57-percent of its 3-point attempts, making 12-of-21 treys.

Jackson drew his first start in conference play, starting Tulsa's leading scorer Brandon Rachal, who did not play because of an injury.

Down 76-65 with 41 seconds remaining in the game, Igbanu made a layup off of an assist from Isaiah Hill, and on the following inbounds play Korita stole the ball sinking a layup with 0:34 left on the clock. After two UCF free throws, Igbanu made another layup which was followed by an Isaiah Hill steal and a layup cutting the Knights' lead to four points, 79-75.

UCF closed the game making 4 consecutive free throws for an 8-point win. The Knights were led by Darin Green, Jr. with 26 points on 7-9 shooting from the field and 6-7 from the three-point line. Ceasar DeJesus poured in 18 points on 8-13 from the field.

The Knights controlled the boards, out-rebounding the Hurricane 32-25; however, Tulsa pulled down 9 offensive rebounds compared to UCF's 6.

Tulsa forced the Knights into 15 turnovers, scoring 22 points off of them.

Korita started a 7-0 run with 5:16 left in the second half as the Hurricane was down by 18, 70-52. The run was capped off by a Horne three-pointer to cut the lead to 11 points at 70-59 with 4:15 remaining in the contest.

UCF started the game on a 5-0 run before Tulsa stormed back to take the lead on back-to-back three-pointers by Elijah Joiner and Horne at 8-5. Tulsa took their largest lead of the game on an Igbanu layup at 10-5, but the Knights responded with a 16-2 run to take a 21-12 lead at the 10:46 mark of the first half.

The Knights built its lead to 12 points at 30-18 with 8:52 left on the first-half clock, before taking a 37-29 lead into the break. UCF made 8-14 (57%) from the three-point line in the first 20 minutes. The Hurricane shot 41-percent from the field in the first half (11-27), and made 4-7 (57%) from three-point range and 3-5 (60%) from the charity stripe

Igbanu led the Hurricane with 10 points in the first half followed by 6 from Jackson. Green Jr. had 14 points in the first half for the Knights.

The Hurricane returns to the Reynolds on Wednesday, Feb. 12 to take on the ECU Pirates at 7:00 p.m.

QUICK HITS …
•      Martins Igbanu scored his career-high of 30 points, breaking his previous record of 29 set 3 days ago against UConn ... it was the 2nd 30-point scoring game by a Tulsa player this season as Brandon Rachal scored 30 against Austin Peay.
•      In Tulsa's three AAC losses, the Hurricane has allowed their opponent to make 10 or more three-pointers.
•      Igbanu also set career highs with 12 field goals made and 16 field goals attempted ... he made his first three-pointer of the season in the first half
•      Tulsa outscoring the Knights in the paint 40-14 is the largest margin this season for the Hurricane.