Cross’ Second-Straight Triple Double Leads the Wave Past Southern 105-81

Saturday, December 16

NEW ORLEANS

1 p.m.

Tulane University

8-2,0-0AAC

105

Southern

4-7,0-0SWAC

Southern U.

Tulane

105

Cross’ Second-Straight Triple Double Leads the Wave Past Southern 105-81

Dec 16, 2023 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS – Senior Kevin Cross posted his second consecutive triple double to help lead Tulane University men's basketball (8-2) to its second win of the week defeating Southern (4-7) 105-81 on Saturday. The Green Wave scored more than 100 points in back-to-back games since 1976 after tallying 115 points Thursday night against Furman.

With the win, Tulane improves to 8-2 overall and remains undefeated at home this season with 6-0 mark at home. The 8-2 start is the best for the Wave through 10 games since opening the 2019-20 campaign 8-2.

Cross was the impact player for the second game in a row for the Green Wave as he recorded his second-straight triple double with 20 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds. In his stellar performance, Cross was nearly perfect from the field shooting 9-of-10 from the floor and added a team-high four blocks. The senior forward posted the first triple double just two days prior with 25 points, 12 boards, and 12 assists in the win over Furman on Thursday.

This dude is out here puttin' up straight 2K numbers 🤯💪

20 points, 11 assists & 10 boards today for his SECOND STRAIGHT TRIPLE DOUBLE ❕#RollWave🌊 pic.twitter.com/ciXMxwsGDo
— Tulane Men's Basketball (@GreenWaveMBB) December 16, 2023

The Little Rock, Arkansas, native became the first player to have a triple double in consecutive games against Division I opponents in 15 years and joined Penny Hardaway as the only Division I players with consecutive 20-plus point triple doubles since assists became official in 1984. Cross is also only the eighth Division I player to record back-to-back triple doubles.

The Green Wave finished with four players scoring in double figures including three with 20-plus point performances. Cross was joined at the 20-point plateau by Jaylen Forbes with a game-high 28 points and Kolby King with 22. Forbes knocked down six threes and added fives rebounds. King matched his career-high with eight rebounds and also dished out four assists. Rounding out the top performers for the Wave was Sion James with 17 points, four boards, and four assists.

As a team, Tulane shot a season-high 66.1 percent from the field marking the second time this season the Wave has shot above 60 percent and the eighth time it has connected at a 50 percent clip or higher. The Green Wave also knocked down double-digit threes for the second consecutive game and the third time this season finishing with 11 triples as a team.

Tulane opened the contest with intensity on both ends of the floor as both teams traded baskets over the first few minutes. Despite exchanging the lead six times through the first half the Wave held the advantage for more than 17 minutes. Tulane built its largest advantage after a 15-6 run to go up 45-30 with 1:11 left before taking a 47-35 lead into the half.

The Green Wave jumped on the Jaguars from the opening tip building a double-digit lead in the first four minutes. After Southern knocked the Tulane lead back under 10 points, King scored 11 straight points for the Wave to push the advantage out to 18 points. Tulane stretched its lead to as many as 27 points before taking a 51-26 advantage into the half.

In the second half Southern tried to fight back, but Tulane never let the lead dip below 14 points. The Green Wave shot the lights out in the second half connecting at a 79.2 percent clip from the field and knocked down five threes to complete the victory 105-81.

Up next, Tulane will welcome George Mason to Uptown on Friday, December 22. Tipoff between the Green Wave and the Patriots is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.

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