Tulsa Closes Nonconference Slate with Southwestern Oklahoma State on Friday

GAME #12: Tulsa (8-3, 0-0 AAC) vs Southwestern Oklahoma State (2-7, 2-2 GAC)
Date/Time:	Friday • December 29, 2023 • 7:00 p.m. (CT)
Site:	Reynolds Center (8,355) • Tulsa, Okla
Coaches:	Tulsa – Eric Konkol (Wisconsin-Eau Claire, '00), 2nd Season SWOSU – Brett Weiberg (Sam Houston '98), 1st Season
TV:	ESPN+ \| Chad McKee (PXP) and Bryndon Manzer (Analyst)
Radio:	Big Country 99.5 FM / Varsity Sports App (Bruce Howard & JR Rollo)
Live Stats:	Live Stats
Series:	9th Meeting \| SWOSU leads 5-3
Twitter:	@TUMBasketball \| @TulsaHurricane
Instagram:	TulsaMBasketball
Game Notes:	Tulsa (PDF) \| SWOSU (PDF) \| The American (PDF)

TULSA, Okla. –– After a week off for the Christmas break, the Golden Hurricane men's basketball team returns to action in the Donald W. Reynolds Center when Tulsa hosts Southwestern Oklahoma State on Friday evening.

Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. and will air on ESPN+ with Chad McKee and Bryndon Manzer bringing fans the action. Tulsa fans can also catch the game on Big Country 99.5 FM and the Varsity Network app. Bruce Howard and JR Rollo have the call.

The Hurricane brings an 8-3 record into the nonconference finale and looks to finish the 2023 portion of the campaign with a perfect home record. Tulsa can equal the 2018-19 team's nine straight home wins to open a season with a victory on Friday.

In its last game, the Hurricane overcame a 16-point first half deficit to take down New Mexico State 65-59. PJ Haggerty scored 23 and led three Tulsa players who finished in double figures. Jared Garica, who finished with 17 points, gave Tulsa the lead for the first time since the early moments with a pair of free throws with 6:21 remaining. Cobe Williams soon after knocked down a massive 3-pointer to give Tulsa breathing room as TU outscored the Aggies 10-5 down the stretch to secure the win.

Haggerty was named the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week for the fourth time this season. It's also the second time he's won the award in consecutive weeks. The redshirt freshman guard averaged 16.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.5 steals in wins over Mississippi Valley State and NM State. He continues to sit second in the nation for freshman scoring, averaging 16.8 points per game, which also leads the Hurricane.

Friday's game serves as an exhibition for the visiting Bulldogs, who have not played in nearly two weeks. SWOSU comes in with a 2-7 record, 2-2 in the Great American Conference. The Bulldogs were victors in their last game, taking down Southern Nazarene 74-63.

Ben Smith is the team's leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 16.9 and 7.4 respectively. Jalen Johnson is the team's second leading scorer and the only other Bulldog to average double figures, putting up 10.3 per contest. Mark Berry grabs 6.8 rebounds per night to rank second on the squad.

Following Friday's contest, Tulsa will open the new year and conference season with the No.9 Memphis Tigers on Jan. 4 in the Reynolds Center. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. and will air on ESPN+.

Tulsa Closes Nonconference Slate with Southwestern Oklahoma State on Friday

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Players Mentioned

PJ Haggerty

Cobe Williams