Tulane University
Loyola (N.O.)
![Senior Ben Benfield provided the second-half for the Green Wave in its win over Loyola on Friday. [File photo by Michael Hebert]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/resize?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Ftulanegreenwave.com%2Fimages%2F2004%2F12%2F3%2F80468.jpeg&height=300&type=webp)
Tulane Men Come to Life Versus Loyola
Dec 3, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 3, 2004
NEW ORLEANS - Ben Benfield provided a second-half spark for Tulane University as it fended off a comeback attempt by Loyola in college men's basketball action on Friday evening at Fogelman Arena.
After holding Loyola (5-4) scoreless for the first 10 minutes of the game and building a 14-0 lead, Tulane (2-3) let up its pressure and the Wolfpack used a dead-eye three-point attack to claw back into the game. Loyola connected on five three-pointers, but the last came with 16 minutes to go.
A layup by Loyola's Zach Tyson lifted the Wolfpack to their first lead at 33-32 with 13:13 remaining, however, Tulane's defense forced 13 misses on Loyola's final 17 shots of the game.
"We're young and we'll have experience issues all season, but we let up our intensity," Tulane head coach Shawn Finney said. "Once they took the lead, it woke us up a little and we played the way I knew we could, on both ends of the floor."
After Tyson's layup, Benfield checked into the game for the first time and provided an instant spark, keying a 12-1 run which gave the Green Wave the lead for good. On back-to-back plays, the senior found Quincy Davis inside and the Wave big man converted both efforts. On the next play, Benfield made a steal to set up a layup by Marcus Kinzer and then Benfield nailed a jumper as the Wave was off and running.
"Ben gave us a huge spark," Finney said. "He came off the bench and gave us energy; he made some great passes and some scrappy defensive plays."
Loyola stopped the run with three-point play by James Bunn (game-high 21 points), but Tulane followed with a crippling 18-5 stretch with Davis scoring five points and freshman Taylor Rochestie knocking down a pair of threes to build a 62-43 advantage with 4:22 to go.
Despite multiple flagrant fouls in the closing minutes of the game, Tulane held on for the 23-point victory.
Davis led the Wave with his first double-double of the year with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Rochestie notched a career-high 18 points. Kinzer added 16 points and five assists.
Tulane shot 44.3 percent (27-of-61) from the field, while holding Loyola to 31.9 percent (15-of-47) shooting. The Green Wave also held a 41-29 advantage in rebounding and a 32-16 edge in points in the paint. The Wave turned the ball over 13 times while forcing 17 Wolfpack turnovers.
Tulane returns to action on Monday evening, playing at Northwestern State. That game will be televised live by Cox Sports TV (Channel 37 in New Orleans). Tip-off is slated for 6:30 p.m. Following Monday's game, the Wave takes an 11-day break for final exams before returning to the Fogelman hardwood against Savannah State on Saturday, Dec. 18. Tickets are available by calling 504-861-WAVE.
