Tulsa World: TU men to battle with NBA legend

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TU men to battle with NBA legend

Tulsa's Ben Uzoh drives past St. Mary's Jeff Campbell (22) and Luiz Moreira during the first half of the Tulsa vs St. Mary's men's basketball game on Friday at the Reynolds Center in Tulsa, Okla. Photo by Shane Bevel

By ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer
Published: 11/15/2009 2:20 AM
Last Modified: 11/15/2009 7:29 AM

Basketball's all-time great players may retire, but they are never forgotten.

Tulsa's Ben Uzoh was asked if he remembered Isiah Thomas, who was voted one of the NBA's 50 all-time greatest players.

"He was very quick and was a high-energy type player that could score in multiple ways and get his teammates involved," Uzoh said. "I liked his game a lot."

Uzoh was just 6 years old when Thomas retired in 1994, but thanks to classic TV and the Internet, the former Detroit Pistons player's talents are forever displayed.

Thomas brings his Florida International basketball team into the Reynolds Center for a Sunday game. Tipoff is 2 p.m.

TU is coming off a 72-47 win over St. Mary's (Texas), a Division II team from San Antonio.

TU was a burst of energy at the beginning of the first and second halves of the 25-point win. But there were just enough lapses in the contest that conversation bubbled up afterwards.

"We were lackadaisical at the end of the first half and that lets us know that we have to pick it up," forward Steven Idlet said. "If we do that against a better team, the result may be different.

"That may help us in the long run, (St. Mary's) making this a close game."

"It was a physical game and we didn't expect it to be as physical as it was," said TU coach Doug Wojcik, whose team led 30-28 at halftime.

Up next is a more athletic squad that's searching for its first victory. Florida International lost to North Carolina 88-72 last week and fell 99-70 at Monmouth on Friday night.

Thomas, who was named head coach last spring, isn't accepting compensation for his first college job.

The 48-year-old coach has work to do. Florida International, a member of the Sun Belt Conference, has had nine consecutive losing seasons and is coming off a 13-20 season.

The team is led by Marvin Roberts, a 6-foot-5 forward who played at Redlands Community College in El Reno last season. Roberts averaged 19.5 points in the first two games this season.

Height may be an issue Sunday. FIU's tallest player, 6-9 forward Nikola Gacesa injured his knee in Friday's loss at Monmouth. The Panthers' next tallest player is 6-7 forward J.C. Otero.

Thomas may be his team's main attraction this season, but the coach brought in an early recruiting class this week that has been praised by many. Included is 6-8 forward Dominique Ferguson, who originally committed to Kentucky. Ferguson is ranked among the country's top 50 prospects.

Steven Idlet can't wait to meet Thomas after two hours of basketball.

"I'm excited to shake his hand at the end of the game," Idlet said. "He's an NBA Hall of Fame guy and I'm excited to play against him."

Eric Bailey 581-8391
eric.bailey@tulsaworld.com By ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer

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