Tulane University
UAB
Balanced Tulane Defeats UAB, 83-72
Feb 16, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 16, 2002
NEW ORLEANS, La. - A season-high six players scored in double figures to lift Tulane University to a key 83-72 victory over UAB in Conference USA men's basketball action on Saturday evening at Fogelman Arena.
Tulane improves to 13-10 overall and 5-7 in Conference USA play. UAB, which had been tied with the Wave for fourth in the C-USA National Division, drops to 11-14 and 4-8.
"I categorized this as a must-win," Tulane coach Shawn Finney. "You don't want to put that kind of pressure on your team, but you've got to face reality."
The Green Wave fell behind, 39-36 early in the second half, but junior Waitari Marsh (Chicago, Ill.) scored seven points to key an 18-1 Green Wave run. Brandon Brown (Houma, La.) kicked off the run with a strong drive on an assist from Brandon Spann and Spann capped the run with a fast-break three-pointer off a Marsh pass. That shot made it 54-40 with 13:40 to go.
UAB battled back with seven unanswered points to make it 54-47, but Wayne Tinsley scored four points and Spann hit a pair of free throws to push the margin back to 60-47 with 10:40 to go. After UAB's P.J. Arnold hit a leaning jumper, Linton Johnson (Chicago, Ill.) buried a baseline three-pointer and Tinsley followed with a layup to cap an 11-2 Wave run.
The Blazers' Antonae Roberson, who matched his career-high with 20 points, scored 11 of 14 points by UAB to cut the margin to seven at 74-67, but the Wave put the game away down the stretch with Marsh scoring five points and Spann four in the final 1:45.
"We didn't have those scoring droughts that we've had in the last couple of games," Finney said. "We made some adjustments and played with a lot of intensity throughout."
Spann led the Green Wave with 16 points, including 3-of-4 from three, while adding five assists. Marsh added 14 points and a game-high seven assists. Johnson posted his second double-double of the year with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Karl Hollingsworth (Jonesboro, Ga.), making his first career start scored a career-high 10 points. Brandon Brown and Tinsley also added 10 points each.
"We played more like we did in December," Finney said. "We wanted to share the basketball and be aggressive on offense and defense."
The win was the 1,000th all-time for the Tulane basketball program.
The Wave returns to action on Tuesday, playing at Houston at 7 p.m. Tulane plays at Charlotte on Saturday.
Tickets for all Tulane home events are available by calling 504-861-WAVE, or by visiting the Green Wave box office at the Wilson Center.
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