Tulane University
10-10,2-6AAC
USF
9-12,2-6AAC
Men's Basketball Falls Short at Home to USF, 66-52
Jan 29, 2020 | Men's Basketball
NEW ORLEANS – Graduate transfer Christion Thompson finished with a game-high 18 points, but the Tulane men's basketball team suffered a 66-52 home loss to inside Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse.
Tulane's loss to USF marked just the third loss at home for the Green Wave this season. With the setback, Tulane falls to 10-10 on the year.
"I thought the guys really fought today," head coach Ron Hunter said. "I know the kids care. My job is to make sure that we continue to fight, and I know that they are doing that."
Thompson's 18-point effort marked the 15th time this season he has scored in double-figures. He also dished out a team-high four assists. Joining Thompson in double-figures was fellow graduate transfer Nic Thomas, who closed with 11 points.
As a team, Tulane continued its strong trend of taking care of the basketball, as it had just 12 turnovers, while forcing USF into 18 miscues, which marked the 19th time this season the Green Wave has had fewer turnovers than their opponent.
Tulane opened the game on a high note, creating a 12-point lead (18-6) with just under nine minutes to go in the first half. The Green Wave connected a pair of shots from long range during the stretch.
Unfortunately for the Green Wave, Tulane's two 3-pointers were the only shots it would make from beyond the arc in the first half, as it went into the locker room at halftime shooting just 2-of-15 from long range. USF also struggled from 3-point range in the opening 20 minutes, as it connected on just 2 of 14 shots.
USF would respond in a big way to close out the first half, as it outscored Tulane 20-5 over the final eight minutes of the first half to take a 26-23 lead into the locker room.
Coming out of the break, Tulane remained close for the early portion of the second half, as it stayed within five points throughout the first five minutes of play.
The Bulls would begin to make their move with under 15 minutes to go in the second half, as they went on an 11-0 run over a three-minute stretch to open up a 15-point lead (48-33) with just under 12 minutes to go in the game.
The Green Wave would respond, as they went on a 12-2 push to trim USF's lead to five points with 10:37 to go in the game thanks to a 3-pointer by Thomas, which forced the Bulls to call a timeout.
Tulane remained close for the next five minutes, as it trailed by no more than single digits, but with under four minutes to go in the game, USF would go on to outscore the Green Wave by a 10-5 margin to secure the win.
USF shot 64 percent in the second half and out-rebounded the Green Wave by a 40-19 count, as it picked up its second win in AAC play this year.
Tulane returns to action Saturday, February 1 for a road contest at SMU. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
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