Reynolds, Frazier pace Tulane past Colorado State, 80-53

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica – Cameron Reynolds led all players with 25 points and Melvin Frazier scored 23 more as the Tulane men’s basketball team defeated Colorado State, 80-53, in the Jamaica Classic Friday afternoon at the Montego Bay Convention Center.

The 27-point margin of victory was Tulane’s (3-0) largest under second-year head coach Mike Dunleavy, Sr., and the greatest since a 76-48 win over Appalachian State on Nov. 22, 2015.

Reynolds shot 8-for-13 and 4-for-8 from the 3-point line to go with four rebounds and three assists, while Frazier was an efficient 8-for-9 from the floor, including 3-for-4 beyond the arc, to complement five boards, four assists, and four steals.

Ray Ona Embo also reached double-figures with 10 points, as Jordan Cornish handed out a game-high six assists. Samir Sehic contributed eight points, nine rebounds and four assists in 21 minutes off the bench.

Tulane started the game with excellent defense and great offense, forcing three turnovers and scoring the first nine points of the game in less than four minutes. The Green Wave would continue their defensive prowess by holding the Rams scoreless for more than eight minutes and knocking down shots to open up a 17-2 lead with 11:53 remaining in the opening half.

Tulane extended its run to 11-0 on Frazier’s second 3-pointer of the game to make it 20-2, before Colorado State (2-1) broke a scoring drought that lasted eight minutes and 36 seconds with a second-chance layup at the 7:50 mark.

The Green Wave built their lead to as large as 23 on an Ona Embo trey with 34 seconds remaining before taking a 37-14 lead into the locker room at halftime. The 14 points allowed were the fewest in a half in the Mike Dunleavy, Sr., era.

Tulane shot 12-for-24 (.500) from the field, 8-for-15 (.533) from beyond the arc and 5-for-6 (.833) at the free throw line in the first half, while Colorado State went just 7-for-32 (.219) overall and missed all eight of its 3-point attempts while not making a single trip to the foul stripe.

The Rams got off to a great start offensively in the second half, making nine of their first 15 shots, but were only able to carve into their halftime deficit by eight points, trailing 53-38, with 10:39 remaining.

A quick 8-0 by the Green Wave, ignited by a tomahawk, baseline dunk by Frazier and capped by a Reynolds 3-pointer, put the margin back over 20 and it never dropped below that for the remainder of the contest.

Tulane shot exactly 50 percent in both halves, finishing the game 27-for-54 overall, 12-for-25 (.480) from 3-point range and 14-for-19 (.737) at the free throw line. Colorado State went 22-for-62 (.355) on the day and just 4-for-21 (.190) beyond the arc while making five of seven free throw attempts.

The Green Wave owned a 15-9 points advantage off turnovers, but was outscored, 28-24, in the paint, 15-2 on second chance baskets and 20-13 off the bench.

The Rams were led by Che Bob’s 15 points, all of which were scored in the second half. He also tallied nine rebounds and three blocks.

Tulane will face Fordham on Sunday, Nov. 19 with tip-off scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (CT) at the Montego Bay Convention Center.