Tulane downs Fordham in Jamaica to improve to 4-0

NEW ORLEANS – Melvin Frazier compiled his second double-double in the last three games with 23 points and a career-high 14 rebounds as the Tulane men’s basketball team defeated Fordham, 63-55, Sunday evening in the Jamaica Classic at the Montego Bay Convention Center.

The Green Wave improves to 4-0, their longest winning streak to start a season since 2013-14.

Frazier shot 8-for-10 from the field, 2-for-3 from 3-point range and handed out three assists to achieve his third 20-point performance in as many games. Jordan Cornish scored 14 points and handed out a career-high seven assists, while Samir Sehic also reached double-figures with 13 points off the bench.

Will Tavares led Fordham with 19 points, six rebounds and three assists, while Perris Hicks chipped in 11 points and four steals in reserve.

The game started at a very fast pace with both teams exchanging shots and running floor before the first stoppage of play came at the 11:56 mark after a 3-pointer put Fordham in front, 16-13. During that time, Tulane knocked down four treys – two by Ona Embo, one by Reynolds and another by Cornish.

The score was tied on five occasions and changed hands 10 times in the half, as consecutive jumpers by Frazier and Sehic gave the Green Wave the lead, 17-16, with 9:02 to go. Trailing 22-19 with just over five minutes remaining, Reynolds buried a three and was fouled before completing the 4-point play to put the Wave ahead by one once more.

A pair of free throws by Sehic with 2:53 left gave Tulane its final lead of the period, 25-24, before surrendering five straight points. A Frazier tip-in with one second on the clock sent the Green Wave to the locker rooms with their first halftime deficit of the season, 29-27.

Tulane shot just 9-for-27 (.333) overall, 5-for-14 (.357) beyond the arc at 4-for-5 (.800) at the free throw line in the first half, while Fordham went 12-for-28 (.429) on the floor, 5-for-15 (.333) from deep and missed its two free throw attempts. The Rams also owned a 12-6 scoring advantage in the paint and a 9-0 margin off turnovers.

The Green Wave started the second half with efficiency, making three of their first four shots, while holding Fordham to just one make on seven attempts and creating a 35-32 lead with 15:22 to go.

Largest lead of the night – 11 points – on a banked-in floater from the baseline by Cornish to make it 50-39 with just 3:26 remaining, but the Rams created a little late drama with a quick 5-0 scoring run over the next 28 seconds to cut the deficit to six.

Tulane would draw fouls to hold onto its lead in the final minutes, as Cornish made five of six free throws and Frazier connected on the final two to close out the 8-point win.

The Green Wave finished the night shooting 19-for-42 (.452) overall, 6-for-17 (.353) from 3-point range and 19-for-24 (.792) at the foul stripe, while the Rams went 22-for-57 (.386) from the field, 8-for-31 (.258) beyond the arc and 3-for-9 (.333) at the free throw line.

Fordham held a 26-22 scoring advantage in the paint, 19-7 off turnovers and 9-0 on the fast break, while the Olive and Blue held a 10-0 margin on second chances.

Tulane returns home to host Miami-Ohio on Wednesday, November 22 at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app.