Men’s Basketball Rolls Past Northwestern State, 79-52

Saturday, November 16

New Orleans

1 p.m.

Tulane University

3-0,0-0AAC

Northwestern State

1-3,0-0Southland

Northwestern St.

Tulane

Photo by: Niamh Brennan

Men’s Basketball Rolls Past Northwestern State, 79-52

Nov 16, 2019 | Men's Basketball

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NEW ORLEANS – Teshaun Hightower led three scorers in double-figures, as the Tulane men's basketball team defeated Northwestern State, 79-52, in non-conference play Saturday afternoon at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse.

K.J. Lawson added 14 points, while Nic Thomas chipped in 12 points in 18 minutes off the bench. Hightower shot 6-for-11 overall to go with four assists and three steals.

Tulane (3-0) outscored Northwestern State (1-3), 34-6, off turnovers, 21-7 on the fast break, 13-3 on second chances and 24-20 in the paint.

The Green Wave overcame a pair of early defensive mishaps, fouling a pair of Demons on respective 3-point attempts, as Northwestern State generated an early 8-4 lead in the first four minutes of play.

The Demons kept things tied up at 13-all, but their turnover total grew to seven in the first 12 minutes of action. Tulane raced out on a 19-4 scoring run from that point, making six consecutive shots during the span to build its first double-digit lead of the day, 32-17, with 7:32 left in the first half.

As Northwestern State's turnover total continued to grow, so did its deficit, as the Green Wave's margin ballooned over 20 points, 41-19, following a steal and slam at the other end by Ona Embo with 4:22 remaining.

The Demons scrapped together a few baskets late in the period, but Tulane forced its way to the free throw line three times in the final four minutes despite not making a field goal to take a 48-29 advantage into the locker room at halftime.

The Green Wave shot 14-for-29 (.483) overall, 6-for-12 (.500) beyond the 3-point arc and 14-for-18 (.778) at the free throw line while forcing 14 turnovers in the first 20 minutes. The Wave held the Demons to 11-for-27 (.409) shooting, 5-for-18 (.278) from outside and 2-for-4 (.500) at the foul stripe.

Jordan Walker buried a 3 on Tulane's first possession of the second half to extend the lead back over 20 points and it stayed that way for the rest of the afternoon.

The margin surpassed 25 points for the first time after a Thomas fast break layup made it 60-34 just five-and-a-half minutes into the second half, as the Green Wave kept their feet on the gas. The lead grew to as many as 29, 79-50, following a pair of free throws by Thomas with 2:30 remaining.

Tulane finished the day shooting 41 percent from the floor and 45 percent (9 of 20) from outside while going 24-for-35 (.686) at the free throw line. Northwestern State ended the afternoon shooting 35 percent overall and 26 percent from deep.

Jairus Roberson led the Demons with 15 points and made four 3-pointers.

Tulane heads to South Carolina for the first of three games at the Myrtle Beach Invitational beginning Thursday, November 21 against Mississippi State. Tipoff is scheduled at 1 p.m. (CT) at HTC Arena and the game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.

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