Tulane University
Cincinnati
#10 Cincinnati Pulls Away From Green Wave
Jan 7, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2004
NEW ORLEANS, La. - The University of Cincinnati used an 8-0 run early in the second half to take charge on route to a 71-44 victory over Tulane University on Wednesday evening at Fogelman Arena. The No. 10 Bearcats became the first top 15 ranked team in eight seasons to play at Fogelman Arena.
In the Conference USA opener for both teams, Cincinnati improved to 10-0 overall, while the Green Wave dropped to 6-5.
Tulane pulled within five on a baseline three-pointer from Wayne Tinsley which made it 35-30 with 17:41 to go. However, Nick Williams buried a second-chance jumper and Tony Bobbitt followed with a steal and dunk to ignite the 8-0 run. Jumpers from Jason Maxiell and Bobbitt capped the run and made the score 43-30 with 14:29 to go.
Tulane snapped the streak with a follow-up dunk from Vytas Tatarunas, and the Wave pulled within 10 at 48-38 on a Tatarunas three with 10:30 to go. But that was as close as they would get as the Bearcats used a 23-6 run to close the game.
"We got all the open looks we wanted," Tulane coach Shawn Finney said. "We've got to make shots. I thought we wore down at the nine-minute mark. Their physical play really got to us."
Tatarunas led the Green Wave with 15 points and six rebounds, while Tinsley added 12 points. No other Tulane player scored more than four points.
Cincinnati was led by Bobbitt's 18 points off the bench, while Maxiell and Field Williams each scored 13. Nick Williams finished with 10 points as the Bearcats drilled 8-of-18 three-pointers. Tulane was 5-of-14 from long-range.
"For most of the game, I thought we handled the ball well," Finney said. "We had 20 turnovers, but they had 15; and we limited their easy points of off turnovers."
Cincinnati had entered the game averaging just 9.8 turnovers over their last four games. In that same stretch, the Bearcats had defeated their foes by an average margin of 30.8 points. Of their first nine games, only one was decided by less than 20 points, a 68-49 win at Valparaiso.
Tulane shot a season-low 28.8 percent (15-of-52) from the floor, but held Cincinnati to 43.5 percent (27-of-62) shooting, the second-lowest effort of the year for the Bearcats. The Green Wave was 9-of-15 (60.0%) from the foul line, while Cincinnati hit just nine of its 17 free throw attempts (52.9%).
The last time the Green Wave hosted a team ranked as high as No. 10 in Fogelman Arena was Feb. 25, 1996 when No. 6 Cincinnati beat Tulane, 65-63. Since that time, the Wave has hosted No. 1 Cincinnati, No. 5 Florida and No. 12 Kentucky at the New Orleans Arena.
Up next for the Green Wave is its first out-of-state trip of the season, playing at TCU on Saturday. The Wave's only road game thus far was at LSU on Dec. 23rd. After the TCU game, Tulane will travel to another nationally-ranked opponent, Louisville, on Jan. 17. The Green Wave hosts Memphis at Fogelman Arena on Jan. 20. Tickets for that game are also available by calling 504-861-WAVE.
