Tulane University
University at Buffalo
Men's Basketball Faces Buffalo in Holiday Hoopsgiving
Dec 9, 2022 | Men's Basketball
ATLANTAÂ -Â Tulane University men's basketball opens Holiday Hoopsgiving with a matchup against Buffalo at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday morning in State Farm Arena.Â
Fans can listen to the game live on the radio by tuning into 104.1 The Spot or by CLICKING HERE. Tulane's "Voice of the Green Wave" Corey Gloor will call the action live.
STARTING FIVE
1. The Tulane University men's basketball heads to Atlanta to participate in Holiday Hoopsgiving with a matchup against Buffalo on Saturday in State Farm Arena.
2. The two teams have faced each other twice and have split the meetings 1-1. Tulane took the first, winning at home on Dec. 12, 2006 and Buffalo took the second
game at home on Nov. 29, 2007.
3. Over the last two games (ULM & Fordham) Jaylen Forbes has averaged 20.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.0 apg and accumulated five steals. Forbes also shot 53.4 percent from the field and 46.7 percent from beyond the arc versus Fordham earning his way onto the AAC weekly honor roll.
4. Jaylen Forbes had a season high 26 points in Monday's game versus ULM. Shooting 57.1% from the field (8-14) and 50.5% from beyond the arc (6-12). Forbes has scored 20+ in three games so far this season.
5. After seven games, Tulane ranks first among AAC teams in scoring offense (78.1). As a team they hold the second-best field goal percentage at .475 and the best free
throw percentage at .795. Tulane also has the most assists in the league at 115.
TULANE BY THE NUMBERS
263 – Tulane has made at least one 3-point field goal in 263 consecutive games. The last time the Green Wave failed to do so came on Jan. 16, 2014 at home against Louisiana Tech when they went 0-for-14 from outside.
84 – Kevin Cross is 84 points away from 1000 in his career and scored a career high 25 points versus Fordham on 12/3/22.
15 – Tylan Pope scored a career high 15 points versus Fordham on 12/3/22.
14 – Ron Hunter is 14 wins away from 500 career wins.
9.5 – The Green Wave is averaging 9.5 more points per game through the first seven games of the season compared to last.
8 - Jalen Cook hit a career high in assists with eight versus ULM on 11/28/22.
4 – Tulane was picked to finish fourth in the American Athletic Conference 2022-23 preseason poll.
1 - Tulane commits the fewest turnovers in the American (12th nationally) with just 80 as a team (10.0 per game).
THE OPPONENT – BUFFALO
• The Bulls are currently on a four-game win streak.
• Over the last four games, Buffalo has scored 80 or more points.
• Buffalo welcomed back five returners this season with just three of them seeing playing time in 2021-22.
• Just two players are averaging double digit scoring figures with Curtis Jones averaging 16.3 and Zid Powell averaging 14.1.
• Buffalo ranks 15th in the country in steals with 10.1 per game. They also are ninth in the country in fast break points.
also are ninth in the country in fast break points.
2022-23 STATISTICAL IMPROVEMENT
Through the first eight games of the year, Tulane shows improvement in four statistical categories compared to the firs right games of last season.
Category         2021-22    2022-23
Points Per Game    72.1        79.6
Free Throw PCT.     69.5        80.8
Assists Per Game   12.4       16.5
Turnovers Per Game 11.9       10.0
LAST TIME OUT - TULANE FALLS TO FORDHAM
• Four members of the Wave scored in double digits led by a career high of 25 from Kevin Cross. Jalen Cook also nabbed 25 and added five assists. Tylan Pope scored a career high 15 and Jaylen Forbes had 15, with eight coming from the free throw line.
• Tulane led by 11 at the half, having led at the half in every game so far this season. Fordham got off on a 14-2 run to begin the second, getting up 51-47. Getting as close as two with just 10 seconds left to play, the Green Wave couldn't regain the lead.
• Tulane was sent to the line 34 times in the game, making 29 which kept the game close. However, this was also the first game all season in which Tulane lost the turnover battle, 15-11.
