Recap: Tulsa vs. SMU

Tulsa, OK (Sports Network) - Nick Russell led all scorers with 19 points as the SMU Mustangs held off the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, 71-65, in Conference USA action at the Reynolds Center.

Cannen Cunningham tallied 17 points and five blocks for SMU (15-15, 5-10 C- USA), which has won two of three. Shawn Williams and Ryan Manuel netted 13 and 11 points, respectively.

For Tulsa (15-14, 7-8), James Woodard poured in 17 points, while Scottie Haralson had 13 points. The Golden Hurricane have dropped three of their last four contests.

SMU shot a lofty 55.9 percent from the field in the first half to take a 42-35 lead into the break. Tulsa kept the game within striking distance by shooting 48.1 percent from the field and outscoring the Mustangs from beyond the arc, 18-0.

The Golden Hurricane brought their deficit to just one with 1:18 left on a Shaquille Harrison layup, but they could never get over the hump, as SMU sealed its fate by scoring five straight points.

The matchup marked a reunion of sorts for SMU head coach Larry Brown and Tulsa head coach Danny Manning. Manning was apart of Brown's 1988 Kansas team that won the national championship.