Tulsa Loses Tough Home Battle With Cincinnati

It’s senior night in Tulsa as the Golden Hurricane took it down to the wire with Cincinnati for the #5 spot in the American conference.

Tulsa beat Cincy the first time they met this season but couldn’t get the sweep, falling Wednesday night at home, 70-69. 

Tulsa, up one with 15 seconds left, turns the ball over and allows the Bearcats to sink a layup. Darien Jackson missed a layup at the other end, but hustle gets Tulsa the ball back with 5.9 seconds to inbound the ball, down by one. 5.9 seconds was enough and Tulsa falls to Cincy.

Tulsa shot free throws well, 79% from the line. Free throws would prove to make a difference down the stretch for both teams, as late in the game, fouls were committed in abundance. 

This is a Tulsa team who relies heavily on its seniors in Brandon Rachal, Elijah Joiner, Darien Jackson and Rey Idowu. Joiner and Rachal led the Golden Hurricane in scoring, Joiner with 22 and Rachal with 14.

For the two worst three-point shooting teams in the American, Tulsa shot 42% and Cincy shot 38% from beyond the arc. From the field, the Golden Hurricane shot 42% and brought down 32 rebounds.

Tulsa falls to 7-8 in the American and is set to host East Carolina on Saturday, Feb. 27.