UConn Falls at Tulsa, 60-51

With the talent Kevin Ollie assembled on the UConn roster this season, scoring seemed to be the least of the Huskies’ worries.

However, UConn couldn’t buy a bucket down the stretch against Tulsa, falling to the Golden Hurricanes 60-51 to open a two-game road trip.

"We've got to do a better job of executing, and I've got to do a better job of coaching this group," Ollie told the New Haven Register after the loss, which is UConn’s second in three games.

Tulsa closed the game on a 17-5 run to win its third straight in the American Athletic Conference. The Golden Hurricanes (11-6, 3-2 AAC) were led by James Woodard with 20 points and Shaq Harrison with 13.Sterling Gibbs led UConn (10-5, 2-2) with 20 points and Shonn Miller added 13. Rodney Purvis had his 14-game double-digit scoring streak come to an end after producing just five points on 1 of 9 shooting.

Sophomore Daniel Hamilton continues to struggle on offense, and finished 2-for-12 from the field with five points. He did pull down a team-high 13 rebounds with five assists.

In the last four games, Hamilton is 10-for-48 from the field.

“He’s struggling,” Ollie told The Journal Inquirer after the game. “The last four games it’s a struggle for him.”

UConn led as many as 11 points in the first half, but went into the break tied at 26. The Huskies again wrestled control in the second half, leading 44-38 with 8:26 left on Jalen Adams’ basket, but the Golden Hurricanes answered with an 11-2 run. Woodard capped the swing with back-to-back 3-pointers.

After Hamilton’s jumper pulled UConn within one, 49-48, with4:05left, the Huskies managed just three points – a Gibbs’ foul shot and a dunk from Miller – the rest of the way.

UConn missed six of its final seven shots from the field. It shot 17-for-55 from the field for the game.

The Huskies play at Houston on Sunday.