Golden Hurricane's Paint Domination Not Enough Against Shockers' Surge at Charles Koch Arena
In a contest that showcased the Tulsa Golden Hurricane's resilience, the team ultimately fell short against the Wichita State Shockers with a final tally of 79-63. The Golden Hurricane now stand at an overall record of 0-1, while the Shockers have kicked off their season with a victory. The game unfolded at Charles Koch Arena, where despite a valiant effort, the visitors were unable to clinch their first win.
The Golden Hurricane entered the second half trailing by 17 points but managed to outscore their opponents in paint battles, racking up an impressive 40 points compared to the Shockers' 50. However, this inside dominance was overshadowed by Tulsa's struggle from beyond the arc; they converted only two out of twenty attempts for a meager ten percent three-point shooting accuracy.
Tulsa's defense was active throughout, accumulating eleven steals and blocking three shots. They also showed agility on fast breaks with fifteen points scored in transition. Despite these efforts, personal fouls became an issue as they racked up seventeen over the course of play without any player being fouled out or ejected.
Offensively, Tulsa demonstrated efficiency in two-point field goals making twenty-one out of thirty-three attempts which translates into sixty-four percent shooting from that range. Their overall field goal percentage stood at forty-three percent after making twenty-three successful shots from fifty-three attempts.
Free throws were another area where Tulsa managed to leave its mark by securing fifteen points from twenty-two free throw attempts – achieving sixty-eight percent accuracy from the line. The team also capitalized on turnovers by scoring eighteen points off them and grabbed thirty-two rebounds during playtime but only managed four offensive boards which limited their second-chance opportunities to just two points.
The home team Wichita State Shockers displayed strong performance statistics as well with seventy-nine total points and fifteen steals contributing significantly to their victory margin. They shot forty-eight percent overall and fifty-five percent for two-point field goals while converting eighteen free throws at eighty-six percent proficiency.
As for rebounds, Wichita State edged out Tulsa with thirty-six total rebounds including eight offensive ones which helped them score fourteen second-chance points – crucial in maintaining their lead throughout the game despite four times tied and four lead changes occurring during playtime.
Looking ahead for fans of The Golden Hurricane: they will host Charlotte 49ers at Donald W. Reynolds Center located in Tulsa on February 24th at 8:00 PM local time (Central). This upcoming match will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU channel number two hundred eight ensuring that supporters won't miss any action as it unfolds live.