COLLEGE BASKETBALL / NCAA MEN’S TOURNAMENT : Tulsa Takes Bite Out of Old Dominion

Tulsa swept into the round of 16 for the second consecutive season Sunday behind the backcourt tandem of Shea Seals and Pooh Williamson, who combined for 50 points in a 64-52 victory over Old Dominion.

A surprise last season when it upset UCLA and Oklahoma State before losing to eventual champion Arkansas, the Golden Hurricane proved that was no fluke.

“I thought last year’s experience was really going to help us coming in because we know we’re not new to it,” said Seals, who scored a season-high 31 points. “We feel comfortable.”

Seals, who was a miserable five for 26 in the last two games of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, had an abscessed tooth removed after the Golden Hurricane received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. And he has been his old self since.

“When I got (the tooth) out and came to this tournament, I knew I had to step it up or we’d be going home early,” he said. “Once the tooth was out, I had no more worries.”

The Golden Hurricane, which defeated Illinois in the first round with a second-half barrage of three-point baskets from Seals and Williamson, built an 11-point lead early in the second half against the Monarchs behind Seals, who outdueled Old Dominion forward Petey Sessoms, the hero of the stunning triple-overtime victory over No. 10 Villanova Friday night.

If the Villanova game, which lasted three hours, had drained them, the Monarchs (21-12) weren’t letting on.

“I don’t think that was a factor,” said Sessoms. “They just outplayed us. . . . I think they were a better team.”

Tulsa (24-7) will play No. 7 Massachusetts at East Rutherford, N.J. Friday night.