Tulsa Clinches No. 2 Seed with Win on Senior Night

The Golden Hurricane won a hard-fought battle to drop Southern Mississippi in its regular season finale

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:15 pm

By: News On 6

Tulsa Clinches No. 2 Seed with Win on Senior Night

Originally Published: Mar 5, 2011 10:25 PM CDT

Oklahoma Sports Staff and Wire Reports

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Justin Hurtt scored 25 in his final home game and freshman Jordan Clarkson scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half as Tulsa rallied past Southern Mississippi 78-70 Saturday.

The win not only sent the seniors out on a positive note, but gave the Golden Hurricane the second seed in the Conference USA tournament next week in El Paso, Texas.

The game was tied 15 times, the last at 67 before Joe Richard, a 53 percent free-throw shooter, made two with 3 minutes left to put Tulsa ahead for good, the 11th lead change of the game.

Clarkson then was fouled on a 3-pointer with a second remaining and made all three.

R.L. Horton scored 18 points, Gary Flowers had 15 and LaShay Page had 12 for Southern Miss (21-9, 9-7).

The Golden Eagles held Tulsa to 21.7 percent first-half shooting (5 of 23), but Tulsa made 14 of 18 free throws to hang within 31-26 at the break. Hurtt and Scottie Haralson, Tulsa's most potent 3-point shooters, combined to make 1 of 10 in the first half, but bounced back to make 4 of 6 in the second half.

Hurtt, the league's leading scorer at 20.1 points per game, scored 13 of Tulsa's 16 points in a second-half run to keep Tulsa close until the final run.

The C-USA Tournament tips off Wednesday at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas.