"Willpower" Leads Tulsa a Close Win
Published on January 6, 2006 under NBA G League (G League)
Tulsa 66ers News Release
TULSA, Okla. - In a night of power problems at the Expo Square Pavilion, it was the "willpower" of Tulsa guard Will Conroy that led the Tulsa 66ers to a hard-fought overtime victory against the Arkansas RimRockers with a score of 105-103.
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 after halftime on a 14-4 run giving Arkansas a 64-49 lead with 8:00 minutes left in the third quarter. Arkansas held that 15-point lead as late as :36 to play in the third at 79-64.
Tulsa forward Ersan Ilyasova, who scored 18 points and 12 rebounds, sparked the comeback starting the fourth quarter off to a good one with two straight 20-foot jump shots and a three-pointer to help cut Arkansas' lead to five, putting the score at 81-76 with less than three minutes into the final period.
Arkansas guard Clay Tucker, who finished with a game-high 27 points, tried to widen the score by hitting a big three-pointer that extended the lead back to eight and momentarily put a stop to the 66ers' 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 tomorrow as close as this game was tonight."
The Tulsa 66ers take on Arkansas once again on Saturday, January 7 with a 7 p.m. tipoff at the Expo Square Pavilion.
NBA G League Stories from January 6, 2006
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- "Willpower" Leads Tulsa a Close Win - Tulsa 66ers
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- Tulsa Acquires Blackshear - Tulsa 66ers
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