TULSA, Oklahoma -
Scottie Haralson scored 25 points with a career-high 12 rebounds to lead Tulsa, but the Golden Hurricane fell to Memphis, 85-74, in the semifinals of the 2013 Conference USA Men's Basketball Championship Friday evening at the BOK Center.
It was the career first double-double for the senior from Jackson, Miss., who connected on 5-of-9 three-point attempts and 9-of-16 field goals to lead the Golden Hurricane (17-15). Junior Pat Swilling Jr. tallied 15 points and Shaquille Harrison added 13 points for TU.
Chris Crawford scored 30 points on 8-of-10 three-pointers to lead five scorers in double figures for the Tigers (29-4). Tulsa shot 45 percent from the field, while Memphis made 49 percent of their field goal attempts, including 58 percent in the second half. The Tigers connected on 11-of-21 three-pointers, and had 42 rebounds to 37 for the Hurricane.
Haralson scored 13 of his points in the first half, knocking down 5-of-8 field goals, to lead the Hurricane. Memphis broke away from a 14-12 lead with 11:29 remaining in the period, with a 9-0 run to move ahead, 23-14. Tulsa, however, closed the half on a 17-7 run, including a 7-0 spurt, to cut the deficit to one point. TU trailed, 34-33, at the half.
Memphis scored nine of the first 11 points of the second half to extend its lead to 43-35. Swilling hit a three to make the score, 43-38, and Woodard made a jumper at the 13:47 mark to cut the deficit to five points, 47-42. That was as close as Tulsa would get, however, as consecutive Crawford threes sparked an 18-7 run to give the Tigers a 65-49 lead.
Memphis led by as many as 18 points with 2:18 remaining. TU, down 18 with 0:41 left, got a pair of threes by Haralson and freshman Rashad Ray and a layup from freshman James Woodard sandwiched around a Memphis free throw to reach the 85-74 final. Woodard ended the game with eight points, and freshman D'Andre Wright tallied seven rebounds.