Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - Alex Singleton scored three rushing touchdowns
and Tulsa scored the final 24 points of the game to conquer Iowa State, 31-17,
in the Liberty Bowl.
Cody Green passed for 93 yards on 11-of-23 completions and scored once on the
ground for the Golden Hurricane (11-3), who finished the year having won four
of their last five games and tied a school record for victories in one season.
Trey Watts posted 149 yards on 25 carries and Thomas Roberson added two
catches for 35 yards as Tulsa recorded its most wins in one season since going
11-3 in 2008.
The Conference USA program also avenged a 38-23 loss at Iowa State on Sept. 1.
Freshman signal-caller S.B. Richardson and Steele Jantz combined for 170
yards, one touchdown and two interceptions on 14-of-28 efficiency for the
Cyclones (6-7), who ended up losing four of their last five contests.
Ernst Brun led all receivers with 102 yards on four receptions, including a
69-yard TD catch, while Jeremy Reeves posted a 31-yard interception return for
another score.
Early in the second quarter, Tulsa got within three after Green found the end
zone on an 8-yard rush, and after holding Iowa State to a three-and-out, moved
59 yards in six plays and took a 21-17 lead thanks to a 2-yard scoring run
from Singleton.
ISU's Edwin Arceo missed a 34-yard attempt wide right with under three minutes
left in the half and the Cyclones trailed by four after failing to pick up a
first down on their last possession before intermission.
Singleton finished Tulsa's third drive of the third quarter with a 1-yard
touchdown run for a 28-17 advantage.
The Golden Hurricane extended that edge to 14 points on their ensuing series
thanks to a 40-yard make from Daniel Schwarz five plays into the final
quarter.
Tulsa held Iowa State into a punt, interception and turnover on downs over its
final three possessions of the contest.
Arceo capped the opening drive of the contest with a 33-yard field goal to
provide the early edge to ISU.
The Cyclones went up 10-0 after a 31-yard interception return for a score by
Reeves, but Tulsa responded on the next series on a 2-yard run by Singleton to
cap a 75-yard drive.
Iowa State cashed in once more three plays into the following series thanks to
Richardson's dump-off to Brun, who ran the rest of the way for a 69-yard TD
and 17-7 advantage with 3:46 left in the first quarter.
Game Notes
Tulsa has won four of its last five bowl appearances since the 2007 season,
improving to 9-10 overall in bowls and 2-0 at this bowl played yearly in west
Tennessee ... Iowa State had won the only two prior meetings between the
schools ...The Cyclones dropped to 3-9 in bowl competition all time ... In
defeat, Iowa State was held to nine first downs and 268 yards of total
offense, while Tulsa made 23 first downs and racked up 410 yards.
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