Tulane University
Centenary College
Team Effort Leads Green Wave Over Centenary
Nov 19, 2010 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 19, 2010
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NEW ORLEANS - After watching Centenary score the first two points of the game, the Tulane men's basketball team took control with a 10-0 run and never looked back en route to a 77-36 victory in the home opener on Friday night in Fogelman Arena.
"We are pleased with the outcome," Tulane first-year head coach Ed Conroy said. "There were some bumps in the road along the way, but I was please we were able to come out on the right end tonight. Credit our guys. They came out and played much better tonight."
Four players, led by senior Kris Richard's 15 points and sophomore Kendall Timmons' double double with 12 points and 13 rebounds, scored in double figures to lead the Green Wave (2-1). Tulane also used solid defense to come away with the victory in front of 2,239 fans.
Tulane's defense held Centenary (0-4) to 36 points, a 27.9 shooting percent from the floor and forced 24 turnovers, while collecting 14 steals. The Gents hit just four of 21 first-half shots (19.0 percent).
"We still have a ways to go and by no means is the problem solved," Conroy said about the progress of his team's defense. "But we chased them into tough shots, we played the lanes better and we attempted to take charges."
The 36 points by the Gents was the lowest point total by a Tulane opponent since the Green Wave defeated Marshall, 61-36, on Feb. 4, 2006.
Sophomore guard Jordan Callahan added 12 points and six assists in the victory, while senior Geoff Hogan collected a career-high 10 points and a career-best five rebounds off the bench.
After Tulane used the 10-0 run to take a 10-2 lead four minutes into the game, Centenary would only get as close as five the rest of the way. The Green Wave took its first double digit lead, 19-9, on a lay-up by Hogan with 10:45 remaining in the first half. A 21-point lead was built after a lay-up by Timmons with 0:53 remaining and the teams traded baskets right before the half as Tulane led 35-14 at the break.
Centenary opened the second half by scoring nine of the first 11 points to slice the Tulane lead to 37-23 with 16:50 remaining, but Tulane answered with a 9-2 run to retake a 20-plus point lead. The Green Wave then held to just five points in the final 8:46 of the game.
Tulane shot 42.9 percent from the floor, including 51.7 percent in the second half. The Green Wave won the battle of the boards as well, 41-36, led by Timmons' game-high 13.
The defense turned the Gents' 24 turnovers into 31 points and Tulane only committed eight turnovers of their own in the victory.
Aaron Holmes added eight points off the bench, while Ben Cherry hit for six. Freshmen Kevin Brown (four), Jonathan Frye (two) and Kevin Thomas (one) all scored their first collegiate points in the win as well.
Maxx Nakwaasah led Centenary with 12 points, while Jeron Trotman added nine points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Tulane will complete a mini two-game home stand on Monday when Maryville University invades Fogelman Arena at 7 p.m. CST.
Game Notes
- Senior Geoff Hogan's 10 points tonight marked a career-high, surpassing his previous high of six scored against three other opponents.
- Hogan also gathered a career-high five rebounds in tonight's game. His previous high was four against Southern Miss last season.
- Sophomore guard Kendall Timmons' 13 rebounds marked his third double figure rebound game of his career. He pulled down a career-high 15 boards in the season opening victory at Maryland-Eastern Shore a week ago.
- Timmons also collected 12 points, giving the sophomore his second double double of the season and the third of his career. His 12 marks the second double digit scoring game of the season and the 17th of his career.
- Sophomore guard Jordan Callahan scored in double figures for the second time this season and the sixth time of his career with his 12 points tonight.
- Senior guard Kris Richard scored in double figures for the third time this season and the 38th time of his career with his 15 points tonight.
- The 36 points by the Gents was the lowest point total by a Tulane opponent since the Green Wave defeated Marshall, 61-36, on Feb. 4, 2006.
