UConn held the lead with minutes left in the game, but Pat Birt stole the ball, scored with 1:12 left in overtime -- then added a free throw in the final seconds -- to boost Tulsa past UConn 61-59 in an American Athletic Conference opener on Saturday.
Birt and Stirling Taplin scored 13 points each for Tulsa (7-6), which forced 17 Huskies turnovers.
UConn had taken a 59-56 lead with 2:47 left in overtime when Christian Vital made a 3-pointer. Will Magnay blocked the Huskies next field goal attempt but lost the ball on a double dribble. Birt stepped up to strip Vital at 1:21 and raced in to score. Birt was fouled by Vital with four seconds remaining and made the second of a two-shot foul.
After a timeout, Jalen Adams, who led UConn with 18 points, missed a final 3-point attempt. Adams, who missed the last game with a concussion, was 7 of 17 from the field with two 3-pointers and six assists. Rodney Purvis made four 3-pointers for 12 points.
