Tulane University
Centenary
Men's Basketball Snaps Three-Game Losing Streak
Dec 5, 2000 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 5, 2000
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Sophomore Brandon Spann (New Orleans, La.) scored 19 points to lead Tulane University to a 68-57 victory over Centenary College on Tuesday evening at Fogelman Arena.
Tulane improves to 4-3 on the year as the win snaps a three-game skid. Centenary (2-5) dropped its fifth straight, despite a tremendous effort from high-scoring guard Ronnie McCollum, who had 29 points. He entered the game averaging 24.2 per game.
Senior Ledaryl Billingsley (Chicago, Ill.) notched 16 points and six rebounds. Junior Linton Johnson (Chicago, Ill.) chipped in with 12 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore Brandon Brown (Houma, La.) added 10 points. He has scored in double figures in every game this season.
The Wave took the lead for good early in the second half on a pair of Spann free throws, however, Centenary continued to battle, cutting the margin to two at 48-46 with 7:09 remaining on a McCollum three-pointer. However, another McCollum three was off the mark and Spann snagged the long rebound and coasted in for a fast-break layup. In the next instant, the sophomore guard picked off the outlet pass and took three dribbles before swishing a three from the right side to make it 53-46 with 6:07 to go.
Centenary cut the lead to four on two additional occasions. However, holding a 55-51 lead, Tulane rallied again. Freshman Wayne Tinsley (Fontana, Calif.) flipped home a putback, Billingsley had a hoop in the paint, and Spann knocked down a jumper to push the margin to 10 with 3:31 remaining to put the game out of reach.
"We had to grind it out tonight," Tulane head coach Shawn Finney said. "They controlled the game a little bit on us, but we're happy with the win. It gets us back on track and we can focus on playing our game and playing Tulane Basketball."
"You can tell defensively we were a little road weary a couple of times," Finney continued. "Our guys probably played too many minutes. I didn't sub a lot tonight. I kept hoping somebody would step up. Brandon [Spann] came back to being himself tonight. At the end of the game, the defense was tired and his shots start falling."
Tulane shot a red-hot 60 percent from the field in the second half and 50 percent for the game, while holding the Gents to 28.8 percent shooting. Centenary nailed 23-of-28 free throws in the contest, while the Wave connected on 13-of-18 charity shots.
The Gents started hot as McCollum scored his team's first seven points, leading them to a 7-2 advantage. However, Tulane righted itself and built a 21-13 lead. Just as it looked like the Wave would hold its first halftime lead of the year, McCollum came back to life, scoring six more points, all from the line, to lift Centenary to a 24-23 halftime advantage.
"Every game we've been down at halftime," Finney said. "I know this team doesn't care what the score is at halftime and with our style, we're able to wear people down in the second half."
Tulane returns to action on Saturday hosting next-door neighbor Loyola in the "Battle for Uptown" at Fogelman Arena. It will be just the third meeting between the two teams and the first since 1972. Prior to the game, the Tulane Athletics Department and Alumni Affairs Office invite all Tulane Alumni to a block party in front of Fogelman from 5-7 p.m., complete with live music and concessions specials.
