Box Score TULSA, Okla., MARCH 5, 2016 – On senior day against the most senior-laden team in the country, USF held a nine-point lead, but could not overcome turnovers and an injury to its top scorer in the Bulls' 84-74 loss at Tulsa on Saturday in front of 6,524 at the Reynolds Center.
USF (7-24, 4-14) led 36-33 in the first half with the help of 13 first half points from its leading scorer, Jahmal McMurray. The freshman from Topeka, Kan., who had roughly 50 friends and family in attendance, drained a 3-pointer just seconds into the second half to increase the Bulls' lead to 39-33. One minute later, he started cramping and had to leave the court. McMurray, who has hit at least one 3-pointer in 26 consecutive games, missed 15 minutes and 51 seconds of game time, but his teammates helped pick up the slack to stay within striking distance.
A big contributor was senior Nehemias Morillo, who scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half. All five of his made field goals were from 3-point range as he finished 5-of-8 from downtown.
“I'm proud of our guys. I'm proud of how we fought,” said USF head coach Orlando Antigua. “I'm proud of the intensity and energy that they played with. Through all the challenges of the game, they stayed together and continued to battle. It took an incredible offensive effort in the second half from a seasoned Tulsa team to get this victory for them.”
The Golden Hurricane (20-10, 12-6) continued its hot streak with its 12th win over the last 16 games and sent its nine seniors, the most of any team in the country, out with a win. Of the 84 points scored by Tulsa, 70 were by its seniors including a career-high 21 by forward Brandon Swannegan.
USF jumped out to an 11-4 lead in the first half and went into the break leading 36-33. It was the most the Bulls had scored in a half in nine games.
With McMurray out of the game, Tulsa took a 41-39 advantage, two minutes into the second half and never relinquished the lead. USF tied the game twice, the final time at 56-56 on a three by Morillo with 8:45 remaining. The Golden Hurricane then scored 10 unanswered to take a 66-56 lead with 6:41 left to play.
McMurray returned with 2:50 left in the game and the Bulls trailing 74-67. He drained a 3-pointer
“There are a lot of things that we are going to take away from this game to prepare for our game on Thursday,” said Antigua.
USF will play on Thursday in the first round of the American Athletic Conference Championship in Orlando. The Bulls' opponent will be determined with the outcome of Sunday's games.
