Tulane University
Charlotte (C-USA Tourney)
Men's Basketball Eliminated By Charlotte, 78-69
Mar 7, 2002 | Men's Basketball
March 7, 2002
CINCINNATI - Tulane University was eliminated from the Conference USA men's basketball tournament on Thursday evening, losing to Charlotte, 78-69, in quarterfinal action at the Firstar Center.
The Green Wave, seeded 12th, had upended No. 5 seed Saint Louis on Wednesday, but could not overcome the potent three-point attack of the 49ers on Thursday.
Charlotte (18-10) connected on 10-of-21 three-pointers in the game. The Green Wave countered that with a 41-30 advantage in rebounding, including 18 offensive rebounds to the 49ers six, but down the stretch Charlotte converted both from the line and in transition to advance to the semifinals against top seed Cincinnati (Friday, 6:30 p.m. Central). The other semifinal contest pits No. 6 Houston against No. 2 Marquette at 4 p.m.
Tulane, which lost starting point guard Waitari Marsh to injury just six minutes into the game, trailed by as many as 11 early in the second half. However, a gutsy attack brought the Wave within three with 7:48 to go, but it could get no closer.
"We played with great emotion and great intensity," Tulane coach Shawn Finney said. "With two minutes left in the game, we put ourselves in a position to win and that's what we want to do."
Tulane also received just five minutes from forward Nick Sinville, who has battled a foot injury for the last four games. He started 24 games this season.
Trailing 45-34 with 15:46 to go, Tulane used a Marcus Kinzer layup and a three-pointer from Brandon Spann to jump-start a 16-8 run, cutting the deficit to three at 53-50 with 7:48 to go. However, the 49ers responded with a Cam Stephens free throw and a big basket from Demon Brown (16 points, four three-pointers) to push it back to six. The Wave would get within four on three more occasions, the final time with 50 seconds to go on a Linton Johnson three-pointer which made it 70-66. However four Curtis Nash free throws and a pair of transition layups put the game away.
Johnson, playing in his final career game for the Green Wave had a monster effort, matching his career-high with 22 points to go with 14 rebounds. In two tournament games, the smooth 6-7 forward tallied 38 points and 28 rebounds. Spann had another big game, notching 19 points. Junior Brandon Brown was also in double figures with 12 points.
"Anytime a starter goes out of the game with an injury, it's going to hurt, but Marcus Kinzer and Byron Parker really stepped up," Finney said. "They really played big games for us and put us in a position to win the game."
Kinzer played 21 minutes while Parker was 10 minutes of action, mainly in place of the injured Marsh.
In addition to Brown, first team All-Conference selection Jobey Thomas scored 22 points, including six three-pointers. Stephens had 15 points for the 49ers.
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