Men’s Basketball Drops Conference Tilt at SMU, 85-75

Saturday, January 26

Dallas, Texas

5 PM

Tulane University

SMU

Tulane

SMU

Men’s Basketball Drops Conference Tilt at SMU, 85-75

Jan 26, 2019 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

DALLAS – Five Green Wave scorers reached double-figures for the first time this season, but the Tulane men's basketball team dropped an 85-75 American Athletic Conference road contest at SMU on Saturday night at Moody Coliseum.

Jordan Cornish led Tulane (4-15, 0-7 AAC) with 17 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, while Caleb Daniels scored 12 points to go with five helpers and three steals. Samir Sehic registered his seventh double-double of the season with 10 points over 10 boards, while Blake Paul and Moses Wood chipped in 10 points apiece off the bench.

All eight players who entered the game for the Green Wave made at least one field goal on the night.

Jahmal McMurray paced four SMU (12-7, 4-3 AAC) players in double-digit scoring with a game-high 29 points, as Isiaha Mike added 20 points while making all five of his 3-point attempts.

The Green Wave got off to a solid start, making five of their first nine shots to take a 10-8 early edge just eight minutes into the action.

Tulane continued to operate with effective ball movement, sinking 10 of its first 18 shots and sprinkling in a trio of 3-pointers during that span to build a 25-22 advantage with five minutes remaining in the half. SMU (12-7, 4-3 AAC) didn't shoot quite the same clip but matched the Green Wave most of the way to stay within striking distance.

The score would be tied eight times and the lead changed on eight more occasions, with the final switch coming on a Kevin Zhang 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to send the Wave into the break with a 35-32 edge.

Tulane shot 50 percent from the field in the first half and 40 percent beyond the 3-point line while making seven of eight free throws, while SMU shot 40 percent from the field, made five of 11 treys and three of four free throws.

The first eight minutes of the second half resembled a horse race, as both sides pushed the tempo with possession. The Green Wave controlled the boards during that span, while Cornish got hot from the field for a short stretch by burying consecutive 3-pointers to keep the advantage at three, 51-48.

The Mustangs made four consecutive shots from that point, including a pair of 3s as part of a 7-0 scoring run, to retake the lead, 58-54, with 7:57 to go.

Daniels buried a straightaway 3 from approximately five feet beyond the arc to tie the game at 60 with a little over six minutes remaining, but SMU got hot from that point, outscoring the Wave, 21-10, over the next five minutes to create its first double-digit advantage of the night and put the game away.

Tulane remains on the road and heads to Greenville, N.C., on Thursday, January 31 to take on East Carolina. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. (CST) and the game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.

WE ARE NOLA BUILT
Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, All-Americans, professional athletes and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com.