Jerome Jordan scored 16 points and Ben Uzoh added 13 to help Tulsa beat Northwestern 68-59 in the first round of the NIT on Wednesday night. Uzoh hit four free throws in the final 21 seconds as the Golden Hurricane (25-10) survived a late scoring drought to win their first game in the tournament since winning the title in 2001. Craig Moore and Kevin Coble each scored 17 points to lead Northwestern (17-14), which went 9-for-23 from 3-point range against the nation's second-best 3-point defense. Justin Hurtt added 13 points for Tulsa and Ray Reese had 12 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. After making just two of 13 3-point shots in the first half, Tulsa made its first two of the second half and four consecutive baskets out of the break to turn a 30-28 deficit into a 44-34 lead. Tulsa led 60-49 on a layup by Glenn Andrews with 7:25 left, but Moore hit two 3-pointers for Northwestern and Michael Thompson scored inside to cut the deficit to 60-57 with 2:02 left as Tulsa went cold. Moore missed a 3-pointer that could have tied the game, then Uzoh was fouled and made two free throws with 21 seconds left to push the lead to 64-59. Tulsa's NIT appearance is its first since 2001, when the Golden Hurricane won the tournament for the second time. Tulsa also won the NIT in 1981. Northwestern ended a 10-year postseason drought.
