TU Comeback Falls Short Against UALR

Tulsa came back from 17 down in the second half to cut the deficit to four points, but fell in the end, 72-65, at UALR Saturday afternoon at Jack Stephens Center.

James Woodard recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and D'Andre Wright scored 15 points to lead the Golden Hurricane (6-4). John Gillon scored 17 points to lead the Trojans (8-4).

Tulsa trailed 50-33 at the 14:31 mark and 59-43 with 8:23 remaining, but used a 15-3 run to close the gap to four, 62-58, with 3:23 remaining.

The Golden Hurricane pulled within 10 points at 62-53 when Pat Swilling, Jr., made a free throw at the 4:10 mark. Swilling, who finished with seven points, then hit a 3-pointer and King followed with a layup on the next possession to make the score, 62-58, with 3:23 left in the game. King ended the game with a career-high eight points and two steals.

TU would only get as close as four points, however, as the Trojans extended their lead back to eight points, 68-60, with 1:46 remaining.

A Wright layup made the score, 68-62, with 1:33 left, but a UALR layup brought the score back to, 70-62, with 0:36 left in the game. Harrison hit a free throw, and Woodard got the rebound off the missed second shot and put back a layup to make the score, 70-65, with 0:30 on the clock. UALR then made two of its final four free throws, as the Hurricane was unable to connect on its own field goal attempts, reaching the final 72-65 margin.

Tulsa outrebounded the Trojans, 40-37, including a 12-6 advantage on the offensive boards to overcome the height advantage of UALR, which featured three players 6-10 or taller. The Hurricane only allowed seven second chance points, while scoring 11, and outscored UALR, 34-20, in the paint.

The Golden Hurricane held UALR to 36 percent field goal shooting in the second half, and 44 percent for the game, after the Trojans shot 52 percent in the first half. TU, meanwhile, shot 36 percent in the first half, 42 percent in the second half, and 40 percent for the game. UALR was 24-for-40 from the free throw line, while TU made 16 of its 28 opportunities from the line.

In the first half, UALR used a 12-6 run to turn an 8-6 lead into a 20-12 advantage with 11:58 left in the period. Tulsa held the Trojans without a field goal for 5:08, but could not close the gap and trailed, 30-21, with 4:59 left in the half. UALR took a 39-28 lead into the locker room at the half.

Tulsa scored the first five points of the second half, cutting into the deficit and making the score, 39-33. The Trojans, however, responded with an 11-0 run to build its lead to 50-33.

The Golden Hurricane travels to Omaha to face No. 13 Creighton at 7 p.m. Wednesday.