TULSA, OKLA. ? Two numbers on the final box score were as devastating to the Golden Hurricane as Hurricane Andrew.

Following TulsaâÂÂs 89-80 loss to Kansas in raucous, standing-room-only Reynolds Center, TU coach John Phillips pointed to 22 turnovers by his players and 19 offensive rebounds by the Jayhawks.

âÂÂI donâÂÂt think weâÂÂve had 22 turnovers for four years,â Phillips said. âÂÂThey had 19 offensive boards, and thatâÂÂs nine more than us. I think you can say that was a big difference in the game.âÂÂ

Three of those offensive boards came on successive possessions in the late going, and they were back-breakers, effectively taking the crowd right out of the game.

âÂÂThat was very frustrating to see that happen,â TulsaâÂÂs Kevin Johnson said about that pivotal stretch. âÂÂCoach said there were a lot of 50-50 balls, and weâÂÂve got to get more of those.âÂÂ

Johnson led the Hurricane with 23 points, but played tenderly in the last 7:42 after picking up his fourth foul.

âÂÂThat hurt me most on defense,â Johnson said, âÂÂbut thatâÂÂs no excuse.âÂÂ

Tulsa scored 40 points in each half, but in this case consistency didnâÂÂt count because Kansas unloaded a 53-point second-half salvo after settling for 36 first-half points.

âÂÂTheir defense obviously had a lot to do with us not looking very well,â Phillips said. âÂÂIn the second half, I donâÂÂt know other than to give Kansas credit. They pushed us out of everything we wanted to do.âÂÂ

On paper, TulsaâÂÂs three-point numbers look terrific. The Hurricane attempted 12 treys and hit eight. But they made their first six, then only two of their last six. Normally, too, Tulsa shoots about 18 or 19 per game.

âÂÂWe began to stand around and they began to pressure the ball,â Phillips said, âÂÂand we had no movement away from the ball. Fatigue may have been part of it.âÂÂ

Kansas showed no signs of second-half fatigue even though all five starters logged at least 30 minutes.

âÂÂThey were just tougher than we were tonight,â Phillips said. âÂÂThey were extremely hungry tonight.âÂÂ

Phillips quickly interjected that his players were hungry, too.

âÂÂI donâÂÂt mean Kansas wanted the game more than we did,â the Hurricane coach said. âÂÂThe second half was just their half and they won it.âÂÂ

Tulsa couldnâÂÂt cope with KU post players Nick Collison and Wayne Simien, who combined for 45 points and 20 rebounds.

The 6-foot-9 Collison dented the Hurricane for 26 points and 12 boards, re-emphasizing his status as one of countryâÂÂs top big men.

âÂÂCollison has been an All-American since he was in the ninth grade,â Phillips quipped, âÂÂand he played great tonight.âÂÂ