Beavers Comeback Falls Short Against Tulsa, 59-57
December 23, 1998
LAIE, Hawaii - Michael Ruffin made only 3 of 6 free throws over the final 49.6 seconds, but they were enough to help Tulsa hold off Oregon State, 59-57, Wednesday in the third place game of the Pearl Harbor Classic.
The Beavers were in a position to tie with six-tenths of a second left, but a purposely missed free throw by George von Backstrom was slapped away by Tulsa defenders.
The Hurricanes (11-2) were in cruise control through most of the game, building up a 21-point lead in the first half and still ahead by 11 with eight minutes left in the game.
But Deaundra Tanner, who had only three points in the first half, scored eight on a pair of 3-pointers and two free throws to put the Beavers (5-3) back in the game.
Oregon State got to within 2 twice - on a 3-pointer by Tanner and basket by von Backstrom - but each time Ruffin made a free throw that held off the Beavers.
Ruffin finished with 11 points, but had only one field goal - and that came with 1:27 left in the game. Otherwise, he pulled down 12 rebounds and blocked two shots.
Marcus Hill and backup guard Greg Harrington each had 10 points. Tanner finished with 22 points.
The Hurricanes jumped off to a 39-21 halftime lead, getting 21 of their points on 3-pointers and 12 on free throws. Tulsa also had a 19-9 rebound advantage in the first half.
Oregon State didn't help its cause by making only 31 percent (8-for-26) of their shots.
But it was another story in the second half as Tulsa made only 5-of-22 shots, including a 1-for-11 performance from the 3-point line, for 20 points.
