Rice University
12-17, 4-11
Tulsa
17-12, 10-5
Owls Topped by Tulsa, 67-57
3/2/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 2, 2011
Box Score | Photo Gallery 1 
| Photo Gallery 2
HOUSTON - Despite 21 turnovers, Tulsa spoiled Rice University's Senior Night, defeating the Owls 67-57 Wednesday in Tudor Fieldhouse.
With the win, the Golden Hurricane improved to 17-12 and 10-5 in Conference USA play heading into their final game of the regular season Saturday at home against Southern Miss. Rice lost its third straight to fall to 12-17 and 4-11. The Owls travel across town Saturday to take on Houston in their final regular-season game.
The Tulsa game marked the final home game for Rice seniors Bryan Beasley, Suleiman Braimoh, Cory Pflieger and Trey Stanton.
The Conference USA Tournament begins next Wednesday in El Paso.
On Wednesday, both teams got off to sluggish starts.
Rice shot just 33 percent from the field and were outrebounded, 24-15, in the opening period. However, Tulsa turned the ball over eight times in the first nine minutes of the game and the Owls built an early 12-6 lead.
Tulsa had eight turnovers in the first 10 minutes of the game and the Owls got out to an early 12-6 lead. But a 14-3 Golden Hurricane run, sparked by a three-pointer by Justin Hurtt and capped by a Scottie Haralson three, put TU up by four, 22-18.
TU would lead by six in the final minutes of the first half but a Lucas Kuipers three and a layup by Stanton with eight seconds remaining in the period cut the Hurricane's lead to 30-29 at the break.
Rice would grab back the lead in the opening minutes of the second period. Braimoh scored inside to put the Owls up 35-33. After a four-point play by Hurtt, Tamir Jackson would answer at the other end with three that gave Rice a 38-37 lead.
After Steven Idlet's two free throws shifted the lead back to Tulsa, a Bryson Pope steal and Haralson three-pointer then a Jordan Clarkson's jumper stretched the Hurricane's lead back to six, 44-38 with 14:31 to play.
The Owls would tie the game one last time at 44-44 before TU went on an 8-1 run and never trailed again.
Hurtt, Conference USA's leading scorer, finished with 22 points. His 7-for-17 performance from the field included five three-pointers.
With four seniors in the starting lineup, Kuipers came off the bench for the first time this season, and for the first time this season, led Rice in scoring with 14 points. Jackson scored 13 points while Arsalan Kazemi finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.
Rice shot 31.7 percent for the game and had just six assists in the contest.
