Tulane University
UCF
![David Gomez led the Green Wave with 13 points on Saturday at UCF. [File photo by Lori Young]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/resize?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Ftulanegreenwave.com%2Fimages%2F2006%2F2%2F11%2F360252.jpeg&height=300&type=webp)
Stats Don't Lie as Tulane Loses at UCF
Feb 11, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 11, 2006
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Tulane men's basketball team's four-game winning streak was snapped on Saturday evening at UCF Arena as the Golden Knights controlled nearly every statistical category en route to a 72-51 Conference USA victory.
The most glaring statistical deficiencies for Tulane (9-13, 4-5 C-USA) came in turnovers and rebounding as UCF (10-11, 4-4) held a 39-27 advantage on the glass, including 17 offensive rebounds, while forcing 22 Green Wave turnovers.
After UCF built a nine-point advantage in the first half, the Golden Knights' Josh Peppers hit three crucial shots to cripple the Tulane hopes for a comeback. David Gomez knocked down a three-pointer then buried a jumper in the lane to pull the Wave within seven at 45-38 with 12:31 to go, but Peppers hit back-to-back three-pointers to jumpstart an 11-0 UCF run to push the margin to 18 at 56-38 with 9:46 on the clock.
Tulane halted the run with a turnaround jumper from the baseline by Matt Wheaton, but Peppers buried another three and the margin was 19. The Wave would get no closer than 18 the rest of the way.
"UCF did what they had to do to win the game," Tulane head coach Dave Dickerson said. "They played hard for 40 minutes and they put tremendous pressure on our guards. They did a great job of preparing for us."
Gomez led the Wave with 13 points and five rebounds while Quincy Davis, battling illness for much of the week, scored 10 points. Davis needs four points to become the 27th 1,000-point scorer in Green Wave history.
Unveiling a full-court press for the first time this season, UCF forced 22 turnovers, including 13 by Tulane guards. The Golden Knights held a 21-11 advantage in points off the turnovers. While Tulane was topped in the rebounding department by 12 for the game, the second-half difference was 26-14 as UCF relentless pounded the glass. The Wave did shoot a season-best 85.0 percent (17-of-20) from the line, but the Knights matched that as well, hitting 19-of-22 foul shots (86.4 percent).
"We did shoot our free throws well," Dickerson said. "But that does not make up for our very bad rebounding and our all-around bad effort. I take the blame for not having us ready to play. We did not handle this situation very well."
UCF, which had nine players see 16 minutes or more of action, was led by Peppers who scored 11 points. Anthony Williams added 10 points.
Tulane led for the first 12:03 of the game, but the UCF came to life from downtown, hitting back-to-back threes to take the lead for good. The Golden Knights buried 9-of-19 three-point attempts while Tulane was 2-of-11 from downtown.
"We are not as good as we were winning five out of six games," Dickerson said. "But we aren't as bad as we were tonight. We will just come back tomorrow and try to get back on track and improve. We have another tough game on Wednesday. UAB may have the best on-the-ball pressure in the country and they force a lot of turnovers. We need to be ready to go."
The Green Wave travels to Birmingham on Tuesday, playing at UAB on Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. Tulane returns to Fogelman Arena to host No. 3 Memphis next Saturday 7 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 504-247-1240 or 247-1241, online at TulaneGreenWave.com, or by visiting the Tulane Box Office, now located at Fogelman Arena.
