Dec. 31, 2011

Final Stats |  Box Score

FORT WORTH, Texas - Tulsa sent out 2011 with bang as it gutted out a 74-66 road victory at TCU Saturday evening at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.

Jordan Clarkson scored six of the Hurricane's final eight points to help TU pull away from a 66-66 tie to an eight-point win. He matched a career-high with 23 points, shooting 6-for-12 from the floor and making 9-of-11 free throws. Kodi Maduka put up his second straight double-double with 15 points and a career-high 15 rebounds.

The Golden Hurricane will celebrate the coming of 2012 with a two-game winning streak, as it improved its record to 7-7 entering Conference USA play at Houston on Wednesday.

Tulsa shot 50 percent from the floor (20-40), including 61 percent in the second half, and held the Horned Frogs (8-5) to 37 percent shooting. The Hurricane also blocked a season-high 12 shots and out-rebounded TCU 35-27. TCU was led in scoring by Hank Thorns, who had 16 points.

The Golden Hurricane held a 12-point lead, its largest of the night, when Steven Idlet made a pair of free throws to open the second half. After seeing its advantage dwindle to five points at 39-34 with 16:55 left, Scottie Haralson hit a three-pointer and Maduka made a pair of layups to get the lead back to 12 points at 46-34 with 14:48 remaining.

Tulsa's lead reduced back to six points and fluctuated between six and 10 points until 10.03 left in the game when TCU closed to four points at 53-49. TCU completed its nine-minute run when it took its first lead of the game at 59-58 with 5:35 left in the game. Garlon Green, who tallied 11 points for the Horned Frogs, scored a dunk and free throw to cap a 25-12 run over 9:13 of play.

That lead, however was the only one TCU would see. Eric McClellan immediately responded with a three-pointer to put Tulsa back on top, 61-59. The score was knotted twice more in the contest, the latest at 66-66 with 1:56 to play.

After Green was fouled shooting a three-pointer and made all three foul shots to tie the score, Clarkson hit a jumper on the other end of the floor, making the score 68-66, TU. Maduka made a pair of free throws with 1:14 remaining, and Clarkson connected on both sets of fouls shots at 00:46 and 00:30 to give Tulsa the 74-66 final lead.

Tulsa led the entire first half and opened up a 10-point lead, 33-23, at the break. The Hurricane blocked eight shots in the first period and held TCU to .296 shooting. Maduka grabbed 11 rebounds in the first half alone.

A pair of Clarkson free throws put Tulsa on the board first and with 13:09 left in the half, a Maduka fastbreak dunk gave the Hurricane a six-point 14-8 lead. TCU closed to two points at 20-18 with 7:48 on the clock, but Tulsa opened up an 11-3 run to move ahead 31-21 with 2:24 left in the half.

After a TCU layup, D.J. Magley, who returned to action Saturday, made two free throws to close the scoring in the first half.

The Golden Hurricane opens Conference USA play Wednesday at Houston. The game is schedule to tip off at 7 p.m.

For all Tulsa basketball news and information, visit www.TulsaHurricane.com. Follow Tulsa Athletics on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TulsaHurricane and Facebook at www.facebook.com/TulsaHurricane.