Tulane University
UCF
Men's Basketball Drops 3OT Heartbreaker at UCF
Jan 14, 2015 | Men's Basketball
ORLANDO, Fla. - In what will be called an instant classic by everyone that witnessed the game, the Tulane men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker, 103-100, in triple overtime to UCF in an American Athletic Conference contest at CFE Arena.
UCF (9-7, 2-3 American) was able to outscore the Green Wave (12-5, 3-2 American), 12-9, in the final overtime period to secure the win in a game that had 23 lead changes and 18 ties.
The final lead change came when UCF's B.J. Taylor scored on a lay-up and was fouled with 0:34 remaining in the final overtime period. His shot broke the 18th tie and after he made the free throw, the Knights had a three-point lead, 100-97. Taylor then sunk two more free throws for his 32nd and 33rd points of the game with 0:15 left to build the lead to five. Tulane's Jonathan Stark then knocked down a three-pointer with 12 seconds left to cut the deficit to two, 102-100.
UCF's Staphon Blair then hit one of two free throws with 0:11 on the clock, but two last second three-point attempts by the Green Wave didn't fall.
"I'm really proud of both teams. I really love watching guys compete and that is why I was having so much fun on the sideline," Tulane head coach Ed Conroy said. "It's not much fun right now being on the losing end, but I think everyone here was treated to something special. That was guys really laying it out there. The energy that those guys put out there was fun to watch. I tip my hat. I had a great time coaching those warriors wearing the green tonight."
The game was sent into overtime after UCF's Brandon Goodwin sank a free throw to knot the score at 73-73 with 0:08 left after a three-pointer by Tulane's Jay Hook gave the Green Wave a 73-72 lead. Hook's three-pointer capped a 5-0 run in the final minute of the game after UCF had built a 72-68 lead with 0:44 left in regulation.
The second overtime came after UCF's Taylor's lay-up tied it up, 83-83, with 0:50 left on the clock. That came after Tulane's Louis Dabney drained a three-pointer with 1:46 left to give the Green Wave an 83-81 advantage.
Dabney then sent the game to a third extra frame with his sixth and final three-pointer of the night to make the score, 91-91 with 0:41 on the clock.
Neither team held more than a seven point lead in the game and that came in the first half when UCF was up, 31-24, with 7:13 remaining in the opening 20 minutes. Tulane's largest lead was 4-0 to open the game.
Tulane's trio of guards led the way and combined to score 69 points. Dabney had 26 points, while Hook added 25. Stark chipped in with 18 points and dished out a game-high 10 assists for his first career double double.
The trio also combined to sink 14 of Tulane's school-record 16 three-pointers. Hook had seven, Dabney drained six and Stark, Keith Pinckney and Dylan Osetkowski each had one long range basket.
Osetkowski finished with 11 points, while Ryan Smith collected eight points and a career-best eight rebounds.
Taylor's 33 points led UCF, while Goodwin finished with 18 and Kasey Wilson and Blair each posted 15 points.
Tulane next travels to Houston for an 11 a.m. CT tip on Saturday. The Green Wave's 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
- The triple overtime game marked the longest game for the Green Wave since Jan. 29, 1983 when Tulane fell to New Orleans in four overtimes at the Superdome.
- Tulane knocked down a school-record 16 three-pointers in the game tonight, surpassing the previous mark of 15 set on Dec. 21, 2010 against Auburn-Montgomery in Devlin Fieldhouse.
- Senior guard Jay Hook scored in double figures for the 12th time this season and the 35th game of his career with 25 points tonight. His total was the first 20-plus point game of the season for the senior and the seventh of his career.
- Hook drained seven three-pointers tonight, the second most by a Tulane player in a game. He fell one short of his own school record of eight set against Jackson State on Dec. 7, 2013.
- Junior guard Louis Dabney scored in double figures for the 12th time this season and the 39th game of his career with 26 points tonight. His 26 points marks the 10th 20-plus point game of his career and the third this season. Dabney also knocked down a career-high six three-pointers in the game.
- Sophomore Jonathan Stark scored in double figures for the 12th time this season and the 39th game of his career with 18 points tonight.
- Stark also record his first career double double with 18 points and 10 assists. His 10 assists marks the second double figure assist game of the season and his career.
- Freshman Dylan Osetkowski scored in double figures for the fourth time this season with 11 points tonight.
