Men’s Basketball Falls at SMU, 82-67

Saturday, February 1

Dallas, Texas

7 p.m.

Tulane University

10-11,2-7AAC

SMU

16-5,6-3AAC

Tulane

SMU

Feb 1, 2020 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score

DALLAS – The Tulane men's basketball team dropped an American Athletic Conference road game at SMU, 82-67, on Saturday evening at Moody Coliseum.

Nic Thomas led four Tulane (10-11, 2-7 AAC) scorers in double-figures with a season-high 20 points and made six 3-pointers, while K.J. Lawson added 15 points and seven rebounds. Teshaun Hightower added 12 points and four assists, as Christion Thompson chipped in 11 points.

The Green Wave opened up an early 9-2 advantage thanks to three consecutive 3s by Thomas, but the Mustangs responded with eight straight points to take their first lead of the night with 13:54 remaining in the first half.

Thomas was ultimately responsible for the Wave's first 11 points of the game, before Lawson scored the next two baskets to tie the game at 15 at the 9:17 mark.

The score remained tight for the duration of the period which featured eight lead changes and four ties down the stretch, before the Green Wave pulled ahead by four, 29-25, on a trey by Lawson from the left wing with 1:07 to go.

After an SMU (16-5, 6-3 AAC) triple on its next possession, Tulane got a deep jumper from the wing once again off the hand of Lawson with one second to go to send the Wave into halftime with a 31-28 lead.

Tulane shot 12-for-26 (.462) from the field and 6-for-11 (.545) beyond the 3-point arc while owning a 9-5 scoring edge in points off turnovers in the first half, while SMU shot 11-for-27 (.407) overall and 5-for-14 (.357) from outside while holding an 18-12 rebounding advantage and a 12-4 scoring margin in the paint.

The Mustangs took advantage of the Green Wave missing their first three shots of the second half, turning transition offense into an 8-0 scoring run to reclaim the lead, 35-31, and forcing head coach Ron Hunter to call timeout with 18:33 remaining.

Tulane would draw within three, but SMU pulled away by double digits, 50-40, with 14:35 left, and on the Wave's next possession, Lawson was called for an offensive foul. Hunter disputed the foul call and was assessed a double technical and ejected from the game with 14:15 remaining.

The Ponies' run continued as part of an 18-7 scoring surge down to the 7:45 mark where they opened up a 21-point lead, 68-47. The Green Wave fought back to cut the deficit to a dozen, 72-60, with 4:23 left on a three-point play by Hightower.

The Wave would draw no closer, as the Mustangs closed out a 15-point home win.

Tyson Jolly led five SMU scorers in double digits with 20 points, while Kendric Davis registered a double-double comprising 18 points and 13 assists.
Tulane finished the night shooting 25-for-59 (.424) overall and 12-for-28 (.429) from outside, as SMU scored 54 points in the second half on 59 percent shooting to finish the night 31-for-61 (.508) overall and 12-for-28 beyond the arc.

Tulane returns to action in five days for a road contest at No. 21 Houston on Thursday, February 6. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m., and the game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.

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