Green Wave drop contest at Mississippi State, 69-59
Dec 19, 2015 | Men's Basketball
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- A strong start to the second half wasn't enough for the Tulane men's basketball team to get past Mississippi State, as a late scoring lull by the Green Wave helped the Bulldogs earn a 69-59 win at Humphrey Coliseum Saturday evening. Tulane scored just five points in the final 11 minutes of the game, which resulted in a 22-5 run by Mississippi State that decided the game.
It was a career day for sophomore Dylan Osetkowski and redshirt junior Malik Morgan. Osetkowski tallied a career-high 20 points and added eight rebounds, while Morgan notched the first double-double of his Tulane career with 11 points and a career-best 10 rebounds. Mississippi State was led by Malik Newman's 15-point effort.
Trailing by six at the half, Tulane (6-6) came out to score 10 straight points by-way of three layups by Morgan and a pair of dunks from Osetkowski. It was the first time the Green Wave led since there was eight minutes to go in the first half. Tulane continued to push on offense and strung together a 17-2 run in the first seven minutes of the half, and led by as much as nine nearing the midway point in the half.
Mississippi State's Craig Sword hit a pair of free throws following the under-12 media timeout and the momentum quickly shifted back in the Bulldogs' favor. Quinndary Weatherspoon hit a three the next down the court for Mississippi State and IJ Ready converted on a three-point play to get Mississippi State (5-5) back with one with 9:19 remaining.
The Bulldogs took off from there as nothing would fall for Tulane until Osetkowski hit a jumper with 4:59 left in the game. A three from freshman Kain Harris nearing the one-minute mark would be the only other points of the game for the Green Wave.
Prior to the run, Tulane was shooting 67-percent from the field in the second half, but finished the period shooting 35.5-percent. The Green Wave shot 41.0-percent for the game, while Mississippi State shot just 38.2-percent. Both teams committed just nine turnovers, but the Bulldogs were able to score 14 points off the mishaps, while Tulane got just six points.
The Green Wave got out to a good start in the game and seemed to control the momentum early on, with Mississippi State having trouble managing the shot clock early on. But things seemed to shift as soon as Gavin Ware unexpectedly checked into the game. Ware was doubtful to appear against the Green Wave after suffering a bone bruise against Florida State earlier in the week. Ware finished the game with 12 points and nine rebounds, while Sword added 14 points.
The Green Wave return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 22, hosting Southern Miss at 6 p.m.
