Tulane drops tight affair at Tulsa, 62-57

NEW ORLEANS – The Tulane men’s basketball team led by three at halftime, but couldn’t get late shots to fall, as Tulsa held on for a 62-57 American Athletic Conference home victory at the Reynolds Center.

Teshaun Hightower scored a game-high 19 points to go with three assists and three steals, while Jordan Walker and K.J. Lawson chipped in 10 points apiece. Christion Thompson filled the box score with seven points, six rebounds, five steals and three assists.

Martins Igbanu led the Golden Hurricane with a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double, as Jeriah Horne added 14 points.

Tulsa (19-9, 11-4 AAC) started the night with a 6-0 scoring run from the opening tip, thanks in part to the completion of a four-point play just over two-and-a-half minutes into the game. The Golden Hurricane went on to make five of their next six shot attempts to open up a 19-6 lead with 12:28 remaining in the first half.

Tulane (12-16, 4-12 AAC) began to find its groove offensively however, ripping off nine consecutive points due in part to effective ball movement around Tulsa’s zone defense and seven points from Thomas, to pull within four at the 9:02 mark. The offensive efficiency continued for the Green Wave, and Tulsa struggled to find open looks making one of just 10 shots. A 3-pointer by Thompson with 5:16 left in the period gave the Wave their first lead, 25-24.

Tulsa broke its slump with back-to-back treys on their next two possessions to pull back in front by five, but Tulane punched right back with eight consecutive points by Hightower to close the half and send the Wave into halftime with a 33-30 advantage.

The Green Wave shot 13-for-31 (.419) from the field, 4-for-13 (.308) beyond the arc and made all three of their free throw attempts in the first half, while the Golden Hurricane shot 10-for-22 (.455) overall, 6-for-13 (.462) from outside and 4-for-5 (.800) at the foul stripe despite committing nine turnovers.

Tulane pulled ahead by six, 41-35, on a triple by Lawson at the 15:44 mark, but a pair of missed fast-break opportunities could have expanded the margin even further. Tulsa used a combination of the increased pace of play and the Wave’s miscues to its advantage, erupting for a 10-0 run over three-and-a-half minutes to regain the lead, 45-41, and forcing head coach Ron Hunter to call timeout with 11:13 to go.

Trailing 47-41, Walker stepped up in a big way, making two straight 3s to cap an 8-2 scoring run to tie the game at 49 at the 7:18 mark. The Hurricane countered with a 3 of their own on their next possession, before both defenses settled in for nearly the next three minutes of action, until Hightower sunk another trey with 4:53 left to put Tulane in front, 53-52.

The lead changed twice within the next 60 seconds, as a Horne 3 with 3:05 remaining put Tulsa ahead one last time, 57-55.

The Green Wave were able to get multiple stops in the final three minutes but were only able to get one more basket on a put-back by Nobal Days with 26 seconds to go to pull back within two, 59-57. The Golden Hurricane converted three of their final four free throw attempts to seal the victory.

The Wave shot 36 percent from the field and made five 3s in the second half to finish the night shooting 22-for-56 (.393) overall and 9-for-25 (.360) from the 3-point line. Tulsa shot 11-for-21 (.524) from the floor, including 4-for-7 (.571) beyond the arc, in the second half and forced 10 turnovers in the period.

Tulane owned a 22-9 scoring advantage off turnovers and 9-1 margin on second chances, while Tulsa held a 22-16 edge in the paint.

Up next, the Green Wave host Memphis on Saturday, February 29 in what will be the team’s Samaritan’s Feet charity game. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m., at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse and the game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.

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