Tulsa Men’s Basketball Set for Final Homestand

GAME #27: TULSA (5-21, 1-14 AAC) vs ECU (13-13, 4-9 AAC)
Date/Time:	Tuesday • Feb. 21, 2023 • 7:00 p.m. (CT)
Site:	Reynolds Center (13,176) • Tulsa, Okla.
Coaches:	Tulsa – Eric Konkol (Wisconsin-Eau Claire, '00), 1st Season ECU – Michael Schwartz (Texas, '99), 1st Season
TV:	ESPN+ \| Chad McKee (PXP) and Pooh Williamson (Analyst)
Radio:	Big Country 99.5 FM (Bruce Howard & JR Rollo)
Live Stats:	Live Stats
Series:	30th Meeting \| Tulsa Leads 23-6
Twitter:	@TUMBasketball \| @TulsaHurricane
Instagram:	TulsaMBasketball
Game Notes:	Tulsa (PDF) \| ECU (PDF) \| The American (PDF)

TULSA, Okla. — The University of Tulsa men's basketball team hosts East Carolina in the Donald W. Reynolds Center on Tuesday in what is the first of two final home games in the 2022-23 season.

Tipoff for the American Athletic Conference matchup is set for 7 p.m. and will air on ESPN+. Chad McKee and Pooh Williamson will bring fans the action along with Michelle Montaine serving as the sideline reporter. Bruce Howard and JR Rollo will broadcast the radio call on Big Country 99.5 FM and The Varsity Network app.

Tuesday marks the 30th meeting between the Golden Hurricane (5-21, 1-14 The American) and East Carolina (13-13, 4-9 AAC). Tulsa boasts a 23-6 record in the series, but the Pirates have won the past three. It's the first winning streak the Pirates have had over the Hurricane. In the Reynolds Center, Tulsa has only lost twice in 13 games, with last season's 73-71 loss serving as the first since 2013.

East Carolina came away with the win in the season's earlier meeting thanks to its second half shooting, which has been a theme for Tulsa this season. The Hurricane led by five at the break but allowed the Pirates to shoot 59 percent in the second half and TU was defeated 76-66 in North Carolina.

Tulsa is on an eight-game slide, having last won in overtime against Tulane 81-79 on Jan. 21. Since then, Tulsa has dropped three at home and five on the road, including Sunday's matchup at Temple. TU couldn't stop the Owls on offense as Temple shot 62 percent in the second half and won 73-56.

Sam Griffin scored 16 and Tim Dalger 15 with seven rebounds to pace the Hurricane. Despite the loss, Dalger continued his recent streak of strong play on both ends of the court. He's now scored in double figures in seven of the past night games and is averaging 13.8 points and 6.6 rebounds in that nine-game stretch. Only Sam Griffin's 14 points per game and Bryant Selebangue's 9.8 rebounds top Dalger in either category.

The Pirates enter the midweek game having dropped an 86-70 decision to SMU on Sunday, snapping a two-game winning streak, which was the first winning streak for ECU since three in a row against Coppin State, South Carolina and High Point to finish nonconference play.

RJ Felton scored a career-high 27 points in the loss. He has averaged 13.6 points this season, which is second on the team to Javon Small's 15.8. However, Small hasn't played since Jan. 11 at Cincinnati, and Felton has taken over the offense since, averaging 15.2 points in conference play. Brandon Johnson has been another consistent player for the Pirates, averaging 13.2 points and 7.6 rebounds in league play and has eight double-doubles this season, second in The American to Selebangue's 10.

After taking on East Carolina, Tulsa will welcome UCF to the Reynolds Center on Sunday for Senior Day. It's the second consecutive season the Knights will visit as the Hurricane sends its seniors off. Last season was celebrated with a frantic comeback Tulsa win thanks to a half court heave from Jeriah Horne at the buzzer. Sunday's game will tip at 4 p.m. on ESPNU.

Tulsa Men’s Basketball Set for Final Homestand

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Players Mentioned

Tim Dalger

Sam Griffin

Jeriah Horne

Bryant Selebangue