The eight point win came after the game was tied, 101-101, with 2:25 remaining in the game. A 3-pointer from Larry Owens with 2:09 on the clock gave Tulsa (2-2) a lead it would not relinquish.

Overall, the 66ers were 30-33 (.909) from the free throw line and posted 64 points in the paint.

“It is a huge step for this young team,” 66ers head coach Nate Tibbetts said. “It is important to win close games. Sometimes you have to go through some setbacks in order to move forward.”

Othyus Jeffers led the Energy offense with 31 points, followed by 23 from Gani Lawal, 17 from Chris Lofton, 13 from Shy Ely and 10 from Kyle Weaver.

It marked the second straight week the 66ers bounced back from an opening loss of a back-to-back to win game two.

Millsap posted 23 points and 10 rebounds to lead the 66ers and Reid registered 12 points and 11 boards. Also in double figures were Zabian Dowdell (22), Owens (16), Jerome Dyson (12) and Marcus Lewis (10).

“We were aggressive and we shared the ball,” Tibbetts added. “Tonight we showed we are capable of balance on the offensive end and it started with sharing the basketball.”

The 66ers were also tough on defense, scoring 22 points off 19 Iowa turnovers and registering 11 steals, including six from Dowdell.

“This is a step in the right direction for this team,” Tibbetts said. “I am proud of our guys and we will get back in the gym looking to improve.”

The 66ers took a 29-26 lead into the second quarter, scoring 18 points in the paint and shooting a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line in the opening period. Forward Larry Owens, averaging 18.3 points and 8.7 rebounds over the past three games, posted seven first quarter points on 3-5 (.600) shooting from the field.

Tulsa would lead by as many as 14 in the second quarter after shooting 13-26 (.500) from the floor to extend its lead to 65-58 heading into halftime. The 66ers once again took advantage down low, scoring 24 of their 36 second quarter points in the paint.

The 66ers lead grew to double digits, 87-76, by holding the Energy to 18 points third quarter points.

The Tulsa 66ers will continue their home stand next Thursday, Dec. 2, by hosting the Austin Toros inside the Tulsa Convention Center at 7 p.m. CT.