Tulane holds on, edges Tulsa
BY staff reports
Saturday, January 19, 2013
NEW ORLEANS – University of Tulsa freshman guard James Woodard misfired on a deep, last-second 3-point shot as Tulane held on for a 75-72 Conference USA basketball victory on Saturday.
The Golden Hurricane rallied from a 13-point, first-half deficit to take a 47-41 lead with 12:11 left to play, when Scottie Haralson converted on two free throws. Tulsa still led by five points at the 9:37 mark – after Haralson connected on a 3-pointer and freshman Shaq Harrison on two foul shots – but Tulane responded with consecutive 3-point baskets by Ricky Tarrant.
After Harrison missed on a dunk attempt with 2:30 left, Tulane’s Josh Davis was good on two free throws and the Green Wave had a 69-63 cushion.
When time expired after Woodard’s attempt at a tying 3-pointer, Hurricane coach Danny Manning was livid. He explained later that officials ignored his attempt to call a timeout during Tulsa’s final possession.
“We guarded the way we were supposed to in the second half,” Manning said. “We put ourselves in a situation where we could have some success. We have to do that in the first half, as well.
“If we play better in the first half, we’re not in that situation. We played really good in the second half.”
While the Green Wave improved to 13-5 overall and 1-2 in C-USA play, the Hurricane dropped to 13-8 and 3-2.
Woodard had one of his better all-around performances of the season, finishing with 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists. On 3-point shots, he was 0-of-3. On 2-point tries, he was 9-of-11.
Playing before a significant number of family members and friends at Tulane’s Devlin Fieldhouse, Tulsa junior guard Pat Swilling Jr. scored 13 points. He was good on a 3-pointer with 39.8 seconds left and two free throws with 18.7 seconds remaining.
Harrison totaled 11 points, four steals and five rebounds, but Hurricane forwards Kauri Black, Zeldric King and Brandon Swannegan contributed a total of only eight points. After being whistled for two fouls during the game’s first 90 seconds, Black’s participation was limited to seven minutes.
For Tulane, Tarrant had four 3-pointers and 21 points, while Davis – who entered as Conference USA’s No. 3 scorer and No. 1 rebounder – finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Kendall Timmons scored 12 points for Tulane.
