’Will’ Power Leads 66ers to Victory

Conroy put together his best game of the season, putting up a triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, leading the shorthand 66ers to a comeback win, pushing their record to 8-9.

Following a sluggish first half from both teams, Arkansas headed to the locker room leading 50-45 and Tulsa short another player. Recently signed guard Marcus Taylor left the court with a sprained ankle and did not return to the court after the half.

The RimRockers shot out on a 14-4 run after halftime, giving Arkansas a 64-49 lead with eight minutes left in the third quarter. Arkansas held that 15-point lead as late as 36 seconds to play in the third at 79-64.

Tulsa forward Ersan Ilyasova, who scored 18 points and 12 rebounds, sparked Tulsa's comeback, hitting back-to-back 20-foot jump shots and a 3-pointer to cut Arkansas’ lead to 81-76 less than three minutes into the final period.

Arkansas guard Clay Tucker, who finished with a game-high 27 points, made it an eight-point game on a 3-pointer, momentarily stopping Tulsa's run. However, Conroy was going to have none of it on this night as he put the 66ers on his back, hitting two free throws to tie the game at 88 with 2:44 left in the game.

“I knew the whole time we would come back,” said Conroy. “We just had to start hitting our shots.”

The two teams headed to overtime tied at 90. Conroy and Tucker continued to put on a show and the overtime was nip and tuck until the end when Conroy hit a free throw to extend the Tulsa lead to two and the 66ers were able to secure a rebound, running out the clock on a 105-103 victory.

“I’m really proud of the team tonight,” said Tulsa head coach Joey Meyer. “Conroy really stepped up in a time of major roster changes. We had some big foul trouble toward the end, but making the shots is what got us this win. I’m a little concerned about (Saturday) being as close as this game was tonight.”

The Tulsa 66ers take on Arkansas again on Saturday with a 7 p.m. tipoff at the Expo Square Pavilion.