Tulane University
SMU
Men's Basketball Falls to SMU
Jan 21, 2015 | Men's Basketball
NEW ORLEANS - Despite getting a combined 30 points from Louis Dabney and Jay Hook, the Tulane men's basketball team could not hold off visiting SMU on Wednesday night in a, 66-52, loss in an American Athletic Conference contest.
Dabney, a junior guard, posted 16 points and senior guard Jay Hook added 14 for the Green Wave (13-6, 4-3 American) in front of a crowd of 3,115 fans at Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse.
Ultimately, for Tulane, it was poor shooting and a long scoring drought in the second half that proved to be the turning point of the game. SMU (15-4, 6-1 American) held the Green Wave without a field goal for over 10 minutes and during that stretch the Mustangs outscored Tulane, 17-6, that broke the game open.
"I will credit SMU tonight," Tulane head coach Ed Conroy said. "Coming out of halftime they (SMU) really got us on the boards and got us in some foul trouble and that really foreshadowed how the whole second half was played. It was frustrating and that frustration led to us pressing too much on the offensive end."
Tulane had cut into SMU's early second half lead with a three-point play by Dabney with 15:12 remaining that made the score, 43-38, but the Green Wave would only manage six free throws until Dabney knocked down a three-pointer with 4:27 left in the game.
The first half featured nine lead changes and five ties before SMU took the lead for good, 29-27, after a dunk by Markus Kennedy snapped a 27-27 tie with 2:36 remaining. The Mustangs held a 33-30 lead at the break.
Tulane shot just 33.3 percent (16-48) from the floor in the game and connected on seven-of-28 three-pointers. The Green Wave also struggled from the free throw line, hitting just 13-of-24 attempts.
With the Green Wave's seven three-pointers in the game, the fans that were in attendance can take their ticket to a local Papa Johns on Thursday for a $6 one topping large pizza or go online and use promo code 6for6.
SMU shot 43.1 percent (22-51) from the floor, including 50.0 percent in the second half. The Mustangs hit 19-of-25 free throws as well.
Cannen Cunningham pulled down 10 rebounds for SMU, who outrebounded Tulane, 41-30. Hook and senior Tre Drye each grabbed a team-high seven boards for the Green Wave.
Nic Moore led SMU with 18 points, including owning all three of the Mustangs three-pointers. Kennedy and Yanick Moreira each chipped in with 14 points.
Tulane will host Memphis at the Smoothie King Center downtown on Saturday at 7 p.m. CT.
Single game tickets for the Memphis game are $20 for side court seats and $10 for end zone seats. However, the Flex Plan, beginning at $70, is the most valuable option remaining for the season for basketball fans. The flex plan allows fans the ability to purchase 5 single game tickets to be used in any combination at all remaining home games (with maximum of two for UConn game).
For more ticket information please contact Athletic Ticket Sales & Service at (504) 861-WAVE or online at www.TulaneGreenWave.com.
Parking for the public is available in Mercedes-Benz Superdome garages 2 and 5 for $15.
GAME NOTES
- Tonight's attendance of 3,115 is the largest home crowd since a crowd of 3,463 witnessed the Green Wave take on Georgetown on Nov. 13, 2009.
- Senior guard Jay Hook scored in double figures for the 13th time this season and the 36th game of his career with 14 points tonight.
- Junior guard Louis Dabney scored in double figures for the 14th time this season and the 41st game of his career with 16 points tonight.
