Golden Hurricane storm back to claim CBI title

TULSA, Okla. – Ben Uzoh scored 17 points and Tulsa rallied after a miserable start to beat Bradley 70-64 Friday night and win the championship of the inaugural College Basketball Invitational tournament.

Rod Earls hit a 3-pointer from the left side to give Tulsa a 60-59 edge with 2:24 to play, and Uzoh followed by going 1 for 2 at the foul line.

Bradley had two chances to tie it at the other end, but Jeremy Crouch missed a jumper and a tip-in attempt by Theron Wilson also was off target. Earls got fouled on the rebound and hit both of his free throws to stretch the lead to four.

Brett McDade hit two more foul shots after a missed 3-pointer by Daniel Ruffin, the point guard from Bradley’s team that upset Kansas and Pittsburgh in the 2006 NCAA tournament, and Tulsa (25-14) hit enough free throws after that to clinch its third postseason tournament title.

Bradley jumped out to a 16-2 lead but couldn’t stop Tulsa’s comeback.

Each game of the best-of-3 series was won by the home team, and Tulsa had its second sellout crowd of the season at the Reynolds Center to create a raucous atmosphere.

Seniors Calvin Walls and Earls each scored 14 points in their final collegiate game, and tournament MVP Jerome Jordan added 11 points, 12 rebounds and eight blocks for the Golden Hurricane.

Wilson led Bradley (21-17) with 17 points.