| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
DALLAS (AP) -- When Tony Heard made the free throws that finally sealed Tulsa's (No. 17 ESPN/USA Today, No. 15 AP) 83-78 double-overtime victory over Southern Methodist on Saturday night, he put his right index finger to his lips and tried to remain calm.
Then the ball wound up in his hands again and Heard couldn't
contain himself. He flung it high above the floor to waste the
final two seconds of the regular season and began celebrating the
Golden Hurricane's 27th victory, tying the school record and
clinching the Western Athletic Conference title.
"I'm overjoyed," said Heard, who also hit a 3-pointer with 0.5
seconds left in regulation to force the first overtime. "We
deserve this. The coaching staff deserved this. We've worked hard
for this."
Tulsa (27-3, 12-2 WAC) will be the top seed in the league
tournament next weekend. The champion doesn't get an automatic bid
into the NCAA tournament.
The Mustangs (21-7, 9-5) could have gone a long way toward their
first NCAA bid since 1993 by beating the Golden Hurricane. However,
inexperience in big games showed as SMU blew a three-point lead in
the closing seconds of regulation and a one-point lead late in the
first overtime.
"We didn't have anything left in the tank in the second
overtime after fighting back so hard for so long," coach Mike
Dement said. "Our defense and steals is what helped us fight back
when we were down."
Tulsa seemed headed for its second loss in three games when SMU
led 63-60 with 20 seconds left, especially when Willie Davis -- who
scored 23 points -- intercepted a pass at midcourt and drove for a
layup.
But he lost the ball into his own bench while spinning from a
defender, giving the Golden Hurricane a final possession. The play
was supposed to go to Greg Harrington, but when he wasn't open he
passed to Heard, who swished a bomb from the right corner.
"I knew I needed a 3, stepped back and let it fly," Heard
said.
Teammate David Shelton, who had 18 points, was stunned it went
in.
"If he shoots that shot 10 times, he'll miss nine times,"
Shelton said. "But he made that one and it gave us the chance to
go to overtime and win it."
Tulsa star Eric Coley had a cold, sloppy game in regulation, but
he stepped up in the two extra periods, scoring five of his seven
points and providing valuable leadership.
He set the tone in the second overtime by grabbing the opening
tip after several others dropped it, and turned it into a layup for
a 71-69 lead.
The Mustangs got within 71-70 but Tulsa scored the next eight
points, all on free throws. SMU hit some bombs to make it 81-78.
Then Heard's final two foul shots ended it.
Brandon Kurtz had 15 points and 18 rebounds for the Golden
Hurricane.
Jeryl Sasser had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Mustangs. He
also had a costly gaffe by missing two free throws with the game
tied and 13.4 seconds left in the first overtime. Heard again took
the final shot, but he missed and time expired as the teams fought
for the rebound.
Tulsa, which has won seven of eight, beat the Mustangs for the
eighth straight time. Last month, the Golden Hurricane cruised to a
70-59 victory as SMU shot 24 percent and hit just 1-of-18
3-pointers.
The Mustangs ended the season 13-2 at home, both losses coming
in their last two games. The crowd of 8,998 was the largest since a
Dec. 8, 1994, loss to Arkansas. SMU has not beaten a ranked team
since 1993.
| |
ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Tulsa Clubhouse
SMU Clubhouse
|
