Huskers Fall To Tulsa, 52-49

Lincoln -- Brandon Kurtz had a game-high 11 points and five rebounds as Tulsa knocked off Nebraska, 52-49, in front of 6,598 fans at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Tuesday night.

Kurtz has eight of his 11 points in the first half as the Golden Hurricane (4-1) erased an early six-point deficit and took a 28-22 lead into intermission.

The Huskers (3-3) struggled from the floor, hitting on 18 of 59 shots from the floor (30.5 percent) in the loss. Senior forward Larry Florence scored all eight of his points off the bench in the first half as the Husker starters combined for 3 of 22 shooting in the first half.

Nebraska rallied behind the play of senior center Venson Hamilton and Cookie Belcher, regaining the lead at 41-40 on a layup by Belcher at the 6:45 mark before Shawn Williams and Marcus Hill hit consecutive three pointers to push Tulsa ahead for good.

Nebraska had a final opportunity to send the game into overtime, but Belcher's three-point attempt at the buzzer was off the mark. The junior from Mexico, Mo., finished 11 points and tied his career high with six steals, while Hamilton added eight points and a team-high 12 rebounds, as the Huskers outrebounded Tulsa 39-35.

The Huskers return to action this Friday night when the Huskers play host to Southwest Texas State in the first round of the Ameritas Classic beginning at 6:30 p.m. Colgate and Davidson play in Friday's second game beginning at 8:30 p.m.