Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Edged by Tulsa, 63-60
2/7/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 7, 2007
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Rod Earls scored 18 points, including two clutch free throws with 27.5 seconds left, as Tulsa held off Marshall 63-60 on Wednesday.
Earls' free throws put Tulsa ahead 61-58 in a contest that was nip-and-tuck throughout, with Tulsa garnering the biggest lead at six early in the second half.
Tre Whitted and Chris Ross had chances to tie the game for Marshall, but missed contested 3-pointers.
Ray Reese finally rebounded for Tulsa, was fouled and made both free throws to put the Golden Hurricane ahead 63-58 with just five seconds to play.
Ben Uzoh added 12 points and point guard Brett McDade had 10 points in his first significant action since injuring an ankle against East Carolina on Jan. 10.
Tulsa (15-7, 5-4 Conference USA) limited Marshall (9-14, 4-5) to 36.5 percent shooting overall, including 26.3 percent (5-19) on 3-pointers.
Travis Aikens led Marshall with 18 points and nine rebounds. Markel Humphrey scored just nine points, well below his team-leading average of 14.4.
The score was tied 53-53 when forward Calvin Walls put Tulsa ahead, first by making one of two free throws, then with a tip-in to make it 56-53.
Marshall battled back to tie the score at 58 on a long 3-pointer by Ross.
Tulsa grabbed the lead for good at 59-58 with 1:41 to play on a free throw by Uzoh.
