HARTFORD, Conn. — Sterling Taplin scored a career-high 30 points and Tulsa held off a late UConn rally to score a 73-71 win, its first-ever over the Huskies in Connecticut, on Thursday night at the XL Center.
Taplin went 10-of-12 from the field, including 7-of-8 behind the arc to lead the Golden Hurricane (15-10, 8-5), who picked up its fourth straight victory. The junior hit nine consecutive shots at one point and his layup with 40 seconds to go stopped an 8-0 run for the Huskies (12-14, 5-8).
He was joined in double-figures by Junior Etou with 15 points and DaQuan Jeffries, who came off the bench for 14 points and provided two highlight dunks to spark the Hurricane in the second half.