Arkansas rocks the Tulsa 66ers
Published on February 2, 2006 under NBA G League (G League)
Tulsa 66ers News Release
TULSA, Okla., February 2, 2006 - In their fourth and final appearance this season at the Expo Square Pavilion, the Arkansas RimRockers managed to pull off a close second win over the Tulsa 66ers ending the game 112-109 in overtime.
It wasn't all bad for the 66ers. Tulsa center Cezary Trybanski blocked a record game-high nine shots putting him in the No. 1 spot this season. He remains No. 4 in blocked shots averaged at 1.6 per game. Not to be overshadowed by the blocked shots, Trybanski scored a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Despite an unseasonably warm night in Tulsa outside, the RimRockers found the temperature inside to be as cold as ice in the first quarter. Arkansas put up just 13 first-quarter points while shooting a mere 20 percent on 4-of-20 shooting from the field.
On the other hand, Tulsa guard Desmon Farmer had no problem warming up against Arkansas at any point this season. Farmer has averaged 22 ppg against the RimRockers, eight points above his season average. Farmer ended the game with the high 34 points and eight rebounds.
It became obvious early that Thursday night was going to be no different. Farmer led the way for the 66ers with nine first-quarter points as Tulsa claimed a 23-13 lead after one.
Arkansas found some offense in the second, led by forward Brian Jackson, who finished with a double-double of the team-high 34 points and the game-high 19 rebounds, and the RimRockers were able to chip away at the Tulsa lead. Arkansas was able to pull as close as three points late in the half following a layup by RimRockers guard Kareem Reid, but once again, Farmer was a thorn in Arkansas' side. Farmer scored five points over the final two minutes of the period and Tulsa took a 49-42 lead into the locker room.
Arkansas tried to make a couple runs at Tulsa early in the second half but it was not until late in the fourth that Tulsa's win ever seemed a doubt.
Reid, who finished the game with seven points, capped the RimRockers 23-13 run over the last 10:30 minutes with a layup, tying the score at 99 with :33 remaining in the game.
Following yet another empty Tulsa position, Arkansas had two chances to win the game in regulation, but both shots fell short and overtime was called.
The overtime period was a see-saw battle that saw Arkansas take position with a one-point-lead of 107-106 with just under two minutes remaining, following a controversial out-of-bounds call by the officials.
The RimRockers took advantage of the call as Reid put up three quick points and stretched the Arkansas lead to their biggest of the night, 110-106 with :44 remaining in the overtime.
Farmer tried to save the day, but his three-pointer with :03 left was not enough. Arkansas won 112-109.
"It's hard to find anything positive in a game like this," said Tulsa 66ers head coach Joey Meyer. "We just had too many turnovers and extremely poor spacing in the second half. We were bad."
Efforts not to be discounted were Tulsa guard Will Conroy's 22 points and Arkansas forward Donta Smith's 26 points.
The win runs the RimRockers' record above the .500 mark at 14-13. The loss drops Tulsa to 11-15. The two teams will meet again tomorrow night in Arkansas. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
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