UCF loses 75-60 at Tulsa, falls to 10-7
James Woodard scored 18 points with 10 rebounds and 6 assists as host Tulsa (13-6, 5-2 American) won 75-60 over UCF (10-7, 4-2) on Sunday. UCF, which trailed by 1 early in the second half, was led by Justin McBride with 15 points and 7 rebounds.
TULSA, Okla. — UCF’s two-game win streak ended after of pile of turnovers doomed the Knights at Tulsa Sunday.
James Woodard recorded 18 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, helping the Golden Hurricane notch a 75-60 win over the Knights.
Woodard did most of his damage at the line, going 10 of 12. He was 3 of 14 from the field, including 2 of 12 from beyond the arc. Brandon Swannegan scored 17 points with eight rebounds — seven offensive — for the Golden Hurricane (13-6, 5-2 American Athletic Conference). Pat Birt and Rashad Ray added 12 points apiece.
UCF (10-7, 4-2) was led by Justin McBride, who delivered 15 points and seven rebounds.
Tulsa opened a lead in the first half, using a 13-2 run during a 5:52 stretch as UCF missed five shots and had four turnovers.
UCF trimmed its deficit to one as Tulsa went the first 3:05 of the second half without scoring. But a 9-2 run by Tulsa reestablished the lead, and a 13-3 run midway through the second sealed UCF’s fate.
The Knights turned the ball over 19 times and gave up 18 offensive rebounds during the loss.
UCF returns home to face Memphis Tuesday. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. and the game will air on CBS Sports Network.
USF ends skid
With his team down to seven players, freshman Jahmal McMurray stepped up to score a career-high 30, and USF avenged an earlier loss to Houston by beating the Cougars 71-62 late Saturday to end a nine-game losing streak.
McMurray scored in bursts: nine in the first five minutes after halftime as the Bulls (4-17, 1-7 AAC) pushed their lead to 16, and, after Houston rallied to within 56-52 with 2:32 left, 11 straight — out of USF’s final 15 — to push away the Cougars (13-6, 3-4). The Bulls earned their first road win of the season.
“[McMurray’s] teammates understood that they needed to get him the ball because he was getting to the basket and getting to the free-throw line,” USF coach Orlando Antigua said. “He was making plays for guys early on and then he had the hot hand. They got him the ball in the right places.”
Junior forward Chris Perry, the Bulls’ secondleading rebounder and No. 3 scorer, was suspended for indefinitely before the game for a violation of team rules. Team spokesman Steven Schoon said Antigua would have no comment on the suspension.
Luis Santos left sick prior to tipoff, leaving the team severely shorthanded.
“We make no excuses for who’s here and who’s not here,” Antigua said. “We have a responsibility to compete, play and fight for one another. All we need is five guys on the court.”
All seven players who played for USF scored and had at least two rebounds. Angel Nunez had 12 points and five rebounds. Ruben Guerrero had seven points and eight rebounds.
“I’m so happy for these kids, for the resilience that they continue to show,” Antigua said.