Tulane University
USF
Men's Basketball Upends USF in Overtime
Jan 11, 2015 | Men's Basketball
NEW ORLEANS -Louis Dabney poured in 25 points and the Tulane men's basketball team held off a late surge by USF to overtake the visiting Bulls, 56-51, in overtime on Sunday afternoon in an American Athletic Conference game at Devlin Fieldhouse.
The win gives the Green Wave (12-4, 3-1 American) its best start to a conference season at 3-1 since the 1996-97 team opened Conference USA with seven straight wins.
Dabney scored six of his game-high 25 points in the overtime period to help Tulane outscore USF (7-10, 1-3 American), 10-5, in the five minutes of extra time. Dabney knocked down four free throws and hit a lay-up, while Jay Hook added his only three-pointer of the game a minute into overtime.
The Green Wave's defense in overtime was also key in the victory. Tulane held USF to just 2-of-7 shooting from the field, blocked a shot and forced two turnovers. The last turnover - a shoot clock violation - and the block - by Kajon Mack of a three-point attempt from USF's Corey Allen, Jr. - came in the final 0:26 when the Green Wave held a 54-51 lead.
Tulane sent the game to overtime with Jonathan Stark's lone point of the afternoon. The sophomore guard knocked down the second of two free throw attempts with 0:16 left in regulation to tie the score at 46-46. The Bulls' Anthony Collins then missed a jumper as the buzzer sounded.
"It was really hard fought game. Both teams really competed hard and played hard," Tulane head coach Ed Conroy said. "The first half was a game of physical toughness and our guys stepped up to that challenge. The second half was a mental toughness thing. We had to get a stop at the end of regulation to get into overtime and then we had to get a stop at the end and forced a shot clock violation. It was really impressive by our guys who really dug down through 45 minutes in order to feel the way they do right now after a win."
USF was able to overcome a 12-point second half deficit to force overtime. Tulane held a 41-29 lead with 12:03 left in regulation after an 8-0 run that included three free throws by Payton Henson, a three-pointer by Mack and a pair of free throws from Keith Pinckney.
The Bulls answered with a 10-0 run of their own over the next six minutes to cut the deficit to 41-39. Tulane built the lead back to six, 45-39, with 3:28 left, but only managed the one point by Stark during the rest of regulation.
In addition to Dabney's season high in points, the junior added three assists and three rebounds and knocked down a pair of three-pointers. Hook scored nine points and had four rebounds, while Mack finished with five points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Allen, Jr. led USF with 13 points, while Bo Zeigler posted 12 and Troy Holston, Jr. had 11, both off the bench. Ruben Guerrero had 11 rebounds to lead the Bulls outrebounded Tulane, 37-31.
Neither team shot well from the floor for the game. Tulane managed to hit just 15-of-45 field goals (33.3 percent) and make four-of-13 from three-point land. USF knocked down 21-of-59 field goals (35.6 percent) and hit five-of-16 from three. The Green Wave did, however, make 22-of-27 from the free throw line.
Tulane hits the road for a pair of American games. The Green Wave visit Orlando on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. CT tip against UCF and then face Houston in Houston on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. The Green Wave next game at Devlin Fieldhouse is on Jan. 21 against SMU at 8 p.m. CT.
Single game tickets and flex plans are available now. The five game flex plan starts at $70, 10 game flex plan begins at $125. Single game tickets start at only $10.
For additional information, contact the Tulane Team Shop ticket office in person on the first floor of the James W. Wilson, Jr. Center Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information is also available over the phone at 504-861-WAVE (9283) or online at www.tulanegreenwave.com
GAME NOTES
- Junior guard Louis Dabney scored in double figures for the 11th time this season and the 38th game of his career with 25 points today.. His 25 points marks the ninth 20-plus point game of his career and the second this season.
- Tulane's 3-1 start in conference play is the best since the Green Wave opened the 1996-97 C-USA schedule by winning the first seven games.
- Tulane snapped a four-game losing streak in overtime. The last OT win for the Green Wave came on Feb. 3, 2010 at Rice. Tulane's last OT win at home came on Jan. 21, 2009 vs. Tulsa.
