Tulsa Stays Alive In Conference USA Hopes With Victory

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, Oklahoma – Just like every game for a team that is aiming to win a conference title, Saturday's win was a huge one for Tulsa.

With a 73-69 road victory over Tulane, the Golden Hurricane kept their name in the mix for the Conference USA regular season title.

With two games remaining, the win kept TU one game back from Memphis heading into the final week of play.

It moved Tulsa to 10-4 in C-USA play (17-11 overall).

Five players scored in double figures to help Tulsa pull out the victory, including freshman Eric McClellan, who had 15 and hit a pair of crucial free throws toward the end of the game.

With a one-point lead and 17 seconds remaining, McClellan coolly sank both shots to move the margin to 72-69.

After a couple of misses from the field, Tulane was forced to foul again and Tim Peete sealed the game with a free throw of his own.

Jordan Clarkson tied McClellan for team-high honors with 15 as well, and Kodi Maduka, Scottie Haralson and Steven Idlet joined them in double figures.

Maduka added a game-high 12 rebounds to help Tulsa outrebounded the Green Wave 31-22.

TU shot 54 percent from the field as a team.

Each game is bigger than the last for the Golden Hurricane, as it will stay on the road to face the University of Alabama-Birmingham on Wednesday.

Tipoff for the game is set for 7 p.m.