Rice University
-1418,511 CUSA
Tulsa
-1912,115 CUSA
Rice Falls To Tulsa In Quarterfinals, 81-72
3/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 11, 2011
EL PASO - A late, second half Rice rally fell short as Tulsa knocked just enough free throws in the final minutes and hold off the upset-minded Owls for an 81-72 win during the quarterfinal round of the 2011 Buick Conference USA Men's Basketball Championship Thursday.
With the win No. 2 seed Tulsa (19-12) advances to play host UTEP in the first of two semifinal games Friday afternoon. The other semifinal pits East Carolina against Memphis.
Rice, the tournament's No. 10 seed, finishes its season with a 14-18 record. The game marked the conclusion of careers for four Rice seniors - Bryan Beasley, Suleiman Braimoh, Cory Pflieger and Trey Stanton.
Tulsa led by as many as 13 points with 6:25 to play before the Owls mounted a comeback that cut the advantage to as few as four points in the final minutes.
The Owls' run was sparked by a jumper in the paint by Lucas Kuipers, who had come down with an offensive rebound. Kuipers' basket cut the lead to single figures, 69-61 with 3:59 to play. Connor Frizzelle then stole the ball from Tulsa's Justin Hurtt and drove for a layup.
The Golden Hurricane turned the ball over again on their next possession. Arsalan Kazemi made the second of two free throw attempts and the TU lead was down to five, 69-64 with 3:04 to play.
After two free throws by TU's Bryson Pope, Kazemi converted a three-point play and the Golden Hurricane lead was four with 2:23 to play.
Rice had a chance to narrow the gap more following a Tulsa miss but Braimoh's tough layup from the left side missed and TU came down with the defensive board.
Tulsa freshman Jordan Clarkson the delivered with a three-point play but Kuipers answered with a three with 59 seconds to play to make the score 74-70.
TU would make one of two free throws on its next three possessions to move the score to 77-70 with 31 seconds left. The Hurricane was 7-for-10 at the line in the final minute.
Clarkson led Tulsa with 21 points. He was 7-for-10 at the line and made 6-of-7 free throws.
Tamir Jackson, playing in pain after an injury to his left ankle the previous night, scored 15 and had four assists to lead the Owls. Kazemi added 12 points, four rebounds, two steals and a block.
