As Tulane University’s men’s basketball heads toward the end of their conference play, there is still much to look forward to. If this Tulane team can put it all together, we could see them making a fourth NCAA tournament appearance in March. The season has taken the fans on an emotional journey, from sad away losses to exhilarating last-minute victories. Recently, periods of brilliance have been followed by challenges in maintaining consistency.
This week, Tulane competed in a thrilling showdown at University of Texas at San Antonio. The Tulane men’s basketball team showcased their grit with a stunning come-from-behind 61-60 victory over the Roadrunners on Wednesday night. Sealing the deal, redshirt sophomore Rowan Brumbaugh calmly netted two crucial free throws with just 2.5 seconds remaining, capping a 10-0 run that snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. This win marked Tulane’s fifth victory in six meetings with UTSA and their second consecutive conference road win, nudging their away record to 3-2 in league clashes. Tulane clearly has the capability of winning in this conference, so it will be interesting to see how far they go in the tournament.
Despite a sluggish start offensively, the Green Wave’s defense was a silver lining as they clamped down on the Roadrunners, holding them to a mere 32.8% shooting from the field and an icy 25.0% from 3-point land. Tulane’s prowess at the charity stripe was pivotal, hitting 85.7% compared to UTSA’s 63.6%.
Asher Woods and Brumbaugh were instrumental, the only double-digit players for Tulane. Woods led with 18 points on efficient 6-of-8 shooting, including two triples. Brumbaugh added 13 points, all in the second half, perfect from the line in 11 attempts, and contributed four rebounds and assists each.
The game’s intensity peaked in the final minutes as Tulane erased a 10-point deficit with less than four minutes on the clock. Clutch plays, including a corner three by Kaleb Banks and Brumbaugh’s decisive free throws, provided the clutch performance under pressure that secured the victory.
However, the momentum didn’t carry over into their next game against University of North Texas in Denton, where Tulane fell 66-76 on Saturday afternoon. The Mean Green’s formidable defense and a devastating 20-2 run in the first half put Tulane in a problematic position early on. Despite efforts to close the gap, Tulane couldn’t overcome the top defensive team in the conference.
Woods continued his scoring form with a season-high 20 points, and Brumbaugh maintained his scoring streak with 19 points. Yet, the collective effort from North Texas, with eight players contributing and four reaching double figures, was too much for the Green Wave.
Next up, Tulane returns home to face Rice University, hoping to bounce back in front of their loyal fans at Avron B. Fogelman Arena on Feb. 15 at 11 a.m.
