Tulane University
8-14, 1-8
USF
5-17, 2-7
MBB: Tulane unable to knock of USF, falling 73-60
Jan 27, 2016 | Men's Basketball
NEW ORLEANS – Despite a close battle early on, the Tulane men's basketball team was not able to come back and knock off the South Florida Bulls, falling 73-60 at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse Wednesday night. Sophomore Dylan Osetkowski led Tulane with 16 points, adding five rebounds, while redshirt junior Malik Morgan was right behind him with 15 points. South Florida was led by Jahmal McMurray's 23 points and a double-double from Angel Nunez, as he scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Osetkowski opened things up for the Green Wave (8-14, 1-8 American) with a three on their first possession, and the two teams went back and forth to start the game. A layup by Osetkowski with 13:22 on the clock in the first half put Tulane up 14-10 and forced South Florida (5-17, 2-7 American) to call a timeout. The regrouping proved to help as the Bulls strung together a 10-0 run and began to pull away.
Freshman Von Julien laid one in to stop to streak, and a pair of buckets from redshirt sophomore Cameron Reynolds combined with a three from Morgan tied things up at 24-all with 5:38 to play. South Florida responded to the game's third tie with another 10-straight points to regain the lead and position itself for a 36-28 lead at the break.
Osetkowski seemed to be cruising in the first half, scoring 11 points and grabbing four rebounds. Nunez and Jaleel Cousins also reached double figures in the opening period with 10 points apiece for the Bulls. South Florida out-rebounded the Green Wave 21-17 in the first half and scored 24 of its 36 points in the paint.
It was again Osetkowski who got things got things going for Tulane, as he opened up the new half scoring five of the team's first six points. Despite the Bulls continuing to answer everything Tulane did, a two-handed dunk from freshman Kain Harris on the break and a three from Reynolds got the Green Wave back within five, 48-43, with 10:28 to play.
Missed opportunities plagued Tulane and the Bulls were able to take advantage of the lulls. The two-possession difference did not last long, as South Florida responded by scoring 12 straight points to near its largest lead of the night at 17 points.
The Green Wave seemed to rally late, but were not able to overcome the difference in the time remaining. South Florida finished the game with a 44-34 rebounding edge and shot 48.1-percent from the field. Tulane shot 31.5-percent from the field against the Bulls and committed five less turnovers (10-15), scoring 16 points off the mishaps.
Reynolds came off the bench to add nine points and six rebounds for Tulane, while Cousins finished with 17 points and nine boards.
The Green Wave return to action on Saturday, Jan. 30, as they travel to Tulsa to take on the Golden Hurricane at 5 p.m.
