Tulsa Runs Away from Loyola Chicago in Second Half of 85-66 Win

Thursday, November 17

Conway, S.C.

8:30 PM

Tulsa

2-1,0-0AAC

Loyola University Chicago

2-1,0-0Atlantic 10

Loyola Chicago

Tulsa

Tulsa Runs Away from Loyola Chicago in Second Half of 85-66 Win

11/18/2022 1:37:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

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CONWAY, S.C. –– The University of Tulsa scored 55 second-half points in an 85-66 statement win against Loyola Chicago in the quarterfinal round of the Myrtle Beach Invitational on Thursday night.

It was the Golden Hurricane's largest mid-season tournament win against a team coming off an NCAA Tournament run since beating No. 11 Tennessee 88-68 in the championship of the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic on Dec. 23, 1999.

Tulsa improved to 2-1 in the early season and moves on to face Charlotte in the semifinals of the tournament. Loyola Chicago, 2-1, lost for the first time this season and will play against Boise State.

Three Hurricane scored 17 or more points, paced by Sam Griffin's 20. Tim Dalger added 17 and Brandon Betson scored 18, including 8-8 from the free throw line. Dalger recorded nine rebounds for the second consecutive game, while Bryant Selebangue pulled down 10 to lead the team.

Philip Alston was the lone Rambler in double figures, scoring 18 while also tying with Tom Welch with a team-leading six rebounds.

Tulsa shot 55 percent from the field and 54 percent (7-13) from 3-point range in the second half. The Hurricane also took care of its freebies, knocking down 14-15 free throws (93 percent). TU dominated on the glass 21-13.

The Hurricane was active on the defensive end for the entire game, causing 22 turnovers and recording 10 steals, leading to 34 points off turnovers. Betson led the team with three steals, while Griffin and Gaston-Chapman each had two.

The teams exited the locker rooms tied at 30, but the game wouldn't remain close for long. The Ramblers knocked down a triple to go up 35-32 at the 18:11 mark, however back-to-back jumpers from Griffin handed Tulsa the lead.

Dalger's energy kickstarted Tulsa on both sides of the ball in the second half. With the score tied at 38, he went on a personal 8-0 run which included him getting a putback on a missed shot to put Tulsa up, drawing an offensive foul, hitting a three and finally stealing the ball and then knocking down another three in the corner to force a timeout.

After a Loyola three, Tulsa blew the game open with a 12-0 run to take the game from 46-41 to 58-41 with just over 10 minutes to play. Loyola would get the lead back down to 12 a few times, but eventually a 10-0 run from 7:02 to 4:07 gave Tulsa its biggest lead of the night, 74-52 and put the game out of reach.

The run was highlighted by a steal and dunk from Sterling Gaston-Chapman, part of his eight points, two steals and four rebounds evening. Griffin and Betson went back-to-back on 3-pointers, which led to another timeout.

The lead never got below 16 from there and Griffin put an exclamation point on the win with a 3-pointer with six seconds remaining in the game.

First half foul trouble hindered Griffin and Keyshawn Embery-Simpson in the early going as both players picked up two personal fouls. Griffin went to the bench less than two minutes into the game, but Tulsa jumped out to an 8-2 lead.

A BB Knight triple gave Tulsa a 13-5 advantage at the 13:15 mark, but the Ramblers responded with a 15-0 run over the ensuing 5:24, capped by six straight points off layups from Tom Welch, which was his only points for the night.

Griffin returned with two fouls at the 6:58 mark in the first half and a minute later cut the Loyola Chicago lead to four with a 3-pointer, his only points of the half. A Dalger layup and three free throws from Embery-Simpson put Tulsa up 25-24. The teams would trade buckets and free throws before a layup from Loyola with six seconds left sent the teams to the break even at 30.

Dalger had nine points in the opening half. Embery-Simpson added six to help lead the Hurricane.

The Hurricane has a quick turnaround as Tulsa faces Charlotte in the semifinal round of the Myrtle Beach Invitational at 6 p.m. on ESPNU. Charlotte topped Boise State 54-42 in the penultimate game of the opening round.