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Jan. 2, 2003

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS, La. - For the second straight year Tulane University defeated ACC foe Georgia Tech; this year using a 80-66 decision to upend the Yellow Jackets at Fogelman Arena on Thursday evening.

Tulane (6-6) shot 51.7 percent from the field and turned the ball over a season-low 10 times while holding Georgia Tech (5-5) to 41.1 percent shooting and forcing 16 turnovers.

The Wave used a strong inside game against the Yellow Jackets, scoring 38 points in the paint as Nick Sinville (team-high 16 points) and Brandon Brown (15 points) combined to hit 14-of-21 shots. Byron Parker tallied a career-high 12 points to go with four steals, while Brandon Spann added 15 points, including a perfect 8-for-8 from the foul line.

The Green Wave opened the game with a 9-0 run capped by a Wayne Tinsley dunk. Georgia Tech battled back, pulling within four at 18-14 with 9:31 to go but the Wave quickly pushed the advantage back to double digits, taking a 41-27 lead into the break.

"We came out and jumped on them right away," Tulane coach Shawn Finney said. "We played very good basketball for 40 minutes tonight; the guys came in focused. For the last four games we have been as focused as any stretch since I have been here. I see us growing as a team."

The second half started the same way as the Wave rattled off the first eight points of the stanza to build a 49-27 advantage with 16:52 to go.

A pair of free throws from Chris Bosh (18 points, nine rebounds) pulled the Yellow Jackets within 12 at 72-60 with 4:38 to go, but the Wave again settled down. Brown scored in the paint after a Parker steal and a Spann rebound led to the first pair of his six free throws in the final 2:12 to make it 76-60.

In addition to his points and steals, Parker tallied four rebounds and a pair of assists.

"Byron Parker is really coming into his own," Finney said. "He defends well; he got some big rebounds tonight. He had his best career game."

Tulane had defeated the Yellow Jackets last season on the road, 79-69 behind 28 points and 15 rebounds from Brown.

Tulane returns to action on Saturday evening at Fogelman Arena with its final non-league game of the year, hosting Morris Brown at 7 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 504-861-WAVE.