Tulane University
1-1
Mississippi Valley State
0-3
Balanced Attack Led Men's Basketball Over MVSU
Nov 20, 2014 | Men's Basketball
NEW ORLEANS - A balanced attack that saw four players score in double figures and six other post at least five points guided the Tulane men's basketball team to a, 100-61, victory over visiting Mississippi Valley State on Thursday night in Devlin Fieldhouse.
Senior Jay Hook led the way for the Green Wave (1-1) with 18 points, while sophomore Jonathan Stark had 13 and junior Louis Dabney and sophomore Kajon Mack each added 11. 11 of the 12 players that logged playing time scored at least five points with senior Tre Drye and sophomore Cameron Reynolds both posted nine points and sophomore Aaron Liberman put up eight for the transfers first points as a member of the Tulane squad.
"I'm pleased with our guys tonight," Tulane head coach Ed Conroy said. "This was a collective effort of trying to establish our identity as a team and what we are going to be about. We did a better job of taking care of things we needed to take care of."
Tulane broke out in all facets of the game on their way to the first victory of the season. The Green Wave shot 59.7 percent (37-62) from the floor, connected on 10-of-22 three-pointers, dished out 23 assists, outrebounded MVSU (0-3) by 18, collected eight steals and held the Delta Devils to just 33.3 percent shooting (18-54) and three-of-15 from three-point range.
The Green Wave got the scoring started tonight when Drye hit a lay-up less than 30 seconds into the game. The lead wouldn't last long after MVSU scored the next seven points over a three minute span to take a 7-3 advantage. The Delta Devils then built as much as a five-point, 10-5 lead, less than five into the contest before Tulane rattled off a 12-0 run sparked by three-pointers off the hands of Mack and Dabney. That run gave the Green Wave a 17-10 lead, one they wouldn't relinquish the rest of the evening.
MVSU wouldn't get closer than five the rest of the first half and trailed, 41-27, at the break.
Tulane built the lead up to 20-plus points four minutes into the second half and held the largest lead of the night, 39, with 0:49 left in the game after Liberman's lay-up to put the Green Wave at the century mark.
DeAngelo Priar led MVSU with 14 points, while Jordan Washington added 11.
Tulane will continue the six-game season-opening home stand on Saturday when they welcome Southern-New Orleans to Devlin Fieldhouse for a 7 p.m. CT tip. The game is part of the Tulane Classic tournament that also includes next weekend's games against Southeastern Louisiana and Tennessee Tech.
Season ticket prices for Tulane's inaugural season in The American are $300 for premium chairback seating, $200 for bleacher seating, and $400 for the family zone (2 adult/2 youth for both men's and women's basketball seasons). In addition, men's basketball season ticket holders will have the exclusive opportunity to purchase half-priced women's season tickets.
For additional information, call the Tulane Ticket Office at (504) 861-WAVE (9283), reserve your seats on-line at www.TulaneGreenWave.com, or visit the Tulane Team Shop in person on the ground floor of the James W. Wilson, Jr. Center Monday thru Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
GAME NOTES
- Senior guard Jay Hook scored in double figures for the first game this season and the 24th game of his career with 18 points tonight.
- Junior guard Louis Dabney scored in double figures for the second game this season and the 29th game of his career with 11 points tonight.
- Sophomore guard Jonathan Stark scored in double figures for the first game this season and the 28th game of his career with 13 points tonight.
- Sophomore guard Kajon Mack scored in double figures for the first game this season and the second game of his career with 11 points tonight.
- Sophomore transfer Aaron Liberman (8 points) and freshman Keith Pinckney (5 Points) each scored their first points for Tulane in tonight's game. They became the latest newcomers to score and join freshman Dylan Osetkowski who scored three points in his debut against Wake Forest and posted 6 points tonight.
- Tulane broke the century mark tonight, marking the first time since 2002 when the Green Wave defeated Savannah State, 103-47, on Dec. 20, 2002.
