March 1, 2008

Box Score

Marshall at Tulsa Game Book

TULSA, Okla. - Hot-shooting Tulsa handed Marshall its worst loss of the season by virtue of an 89-64 decision in Conference USA men's basketball action at the Donald W. Reynolds Center on Saturday.

The Golden Hurricane (16-11, 7-7 C-USA) shot 62.5 percent from the field (30-for-48) and 57.9 percent from 3-point range (11-for-19) en route to recording the most points against the Thundering Herd (15-12, 7-7) this season.

Forward Ray Reese scored a career-high 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting for Tulsa with five rebounds. Guards Ben Uzoh and Brett McDade added 14 and 11 points, respectively, for TU to avenge an overtime loss to Marshall in January and tie the Herd in the league standings.

Tulsa shot a sizzling 65.4 percent in the first half to jump out to a 48-30 halftime lead. The Golden Hurricane's first-half point total marks the second time that the Herd allowed a season-worst 48 points in a half, tying Louisville's second-half total versus MU on Dec. 18.

Reese netted 15 first-half points on 6-of-7 shooting, including 3-for-4 from beyond the arc. As a team, Tulsa went 7-for-10 from 3-point range in the first half and out-rebounded MU 18-11.

Marshall's Tyler Wilkerson recorded a foul just 12 seconds into the contest, which relegated him to the bench for the next eight-plus minutes. With the Herd's hottest player on the bench, Tulsa jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead.

After a media timeout, MU head coach Donnie Jones altered his defense into a zone, which seemed to slow the Golden Hurricane attack momentarily. Tulsa's Bishop Wheatley missed a wide open layup with 13 minutes remaining and the Herd transition offense went to work. Baines scored while being fouled for the traditional three-point play and added another basket 30 seconds later, followed by a Humphrey jumper, to trim the TU lead to 16-14.

Wilkerson re-entered the game with MU down just two points, but Tulsa answered the Herd's charge with a 13-0 run, fueled by a pair of Reese 3-pointers. Pierre-Marie Altidor Cespedes and Taurean Marshall hit back-to-back treys to slow the Hurricane surge, but the TU offense proved to be too much early on.

The Herd found itself down 20 points, 50-30, on Jerome Jordan's field goal in the opening minute of the second half. Marshall, however, did not fold and responded with a 12-0 run to claw to within eight points, 50-42, with 14 minutes remaining.

T. Marshall, who returned to the Herd on Feb. 6 after tearing his ACL, re-injured his knee toward the end of MU's surge to get within single digits. The MU senior sank a pair of 3-pointers, including the second MU field goal of the run, in 11 total minutes of play.

The Herd and Hurricane traded baskets for the next five-plus minutes as Markel Humphrey scored three straight MU field goals with determined drives to the goal. Marshall, however, could not get closer than nine points.

After a Wilkerson dunk off a nice feed from Mark Dorris put MU down 10 points, 63-53 with 8:49 left, the Hurricane ripped off a 9-0 run to go ahead by 19 points. Tulsa did not allow the Herd to get closer than 16 points the rest of the game, going on to win its seventh game in its last nine outings.

Humphrey scored a team-high 16 points with six rebounds. Freshman Tirrell Baines scored 15 points and Wilkerson scored eight points with six rebounds. Dorris netted 13 points in 40 minutes.

Jordan recorded seven blocks on the night to move into first place on the Tulsa single-season blocks list.

Marshall now heads to New Orleans, La., to face the Tulane Green Wave on Wednesday. Tip-off from Fogelman Arena is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.