Tulane University
New Orleans
Bruha's 18 Leads Green Wave Past UNO
Nov 26, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 26, 2011
Box Score | tuvsunobox11-26-11 
NEW ORLEANS - Four players scored in double figures led by TomáÂÂ? Brůha's career-high 18 points to lead the Tulane men's basketball team to a 72-53 victory over cross-town foe New Orleans in Fogelman Arena Saturday night on the second day of the 2011 Hoops for Hope Classic.
Bruha, a junior transfer who played last season in junior college and his freshman campaign at the University of San Francisco, played 22 points off the bench, connected on eight of 10 field goals, grabbed five rebounds, blocked two shots and swiped three steals to lead the Green Wave (6-0).
"From the moment Tomas took the floor I thought he was playing with confidence tonight," Tulane head coach Ed Conroy said. "It is tough coming back from an injury, but I sensed right away he was ready to complete and you can't underestimate what he did tonight."
Jordan Callahan added 16 points, including three 3-pointers, and had a career-high seven rebounds, while Ricky Tarrant had 13 points and Josh Davis collected his fifth double double of the season with 10 points and 12 boards.
UNO (3-3) was led by Antonio Wertz with 26 points and nine rebounds, while Lovell Cook added 17 points.
"We have great respect for all of our opponents, but certainly we know UNO is going to come in here and play really, really hard," Conroy said. "We knew our guys were going to see a different style and their quickness is hard to emulate in practice."
The Privateers scored the game's first points on a 3-pointer by Darrell Williams, but Tulane answered by scoring the next four point to take the lead, one they would not lose the remainder of the game. The Green Wave built as much as a 10-point lead in the opening half and led 34-24 at the break.
The difference on the scoreboard hovered between seven and 10 for the first 11 minutes of the second half before UNO was able to cut the deficit to 54-49 when Cook knocked down a pair of free throws with 8:20 left. Tulane used an 8-2 run at that point with a jumper from Tarrant, a free throw and 3-pointer from Callahan and a lay-up by Davis to pull back to double figures, 62-51, with 4:18 remaining.
A lay-up from Wertz mad the score 62-53, but Tulane closed the final 3:15 with a 10-0 run to secure the victory.
The Green Wave shot 49.1 percent from the floor in the game, including 52.0 percent in the opening half. UNO hit 40.4 percent of its shots for the game. Tulane won the battle on the board, 34-27, and dished out 16 assists, collected eight blocks and had six steals. The Green Wave will battle San Diego at 6 p.m. CT in New Orleans Arena Sunday in the final day of the Hoops for Hope Classic. The Toreros defeated Alcorn State, 66-65, to improve to 4-1 this season and 2-0 in the tournament.
GAME NOTES
- Ricky Tarrant scored 13 points in tonight's game, the third double figure scoring game of his young career.
- TomáÂÂ? Brůha posted his first double figure scoring game of his Tulane career with 18 points tonight. It also marks his Division I career-high.
- Josh Davis collected his fifth double double of his Tulane career with his 10 points and 12 rebounds in tonight's game.
- Jordan Callahan reached double figures for the fifth game this season and the 35th game of his career with his 16 points tonight.
- Callahan tied his career-high with seven rebounds in tonight's game.
- Callahan finished the game with three 3-pointers made and is now just six 3-pointers away from cracking the top 10 career list in Tulane history. He now has made 93 long range shots.
- Tulane took a 24-23 series lead against cross-town foe New Orleans with the victory tonight.
- Tulane improved to 6-0 for the first time since the 1991-92 season when the Green Wave opened 13-0.
