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Jan. 24, 2004

Final Stats

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Four players scored in double figures as Tulane University defeated Savannah State, 77-61, in men's basketball action on Saturday evening at Fogelman Arena.

Tulane (7-8), playing its final non-league game of the year, was led by senior Wayne Tinsley, who tallied 13 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. It was the third straight double-double for Tinsley. Junior Marcus Kinzer scored 15 points, while Quincy Davis added 11 and Vytas Tatarunas had 10. Davis also added eight rebounds and a career-high seven blocked shots, the third most in school history.

"Wayne was an animal on the glass tonight," Tulane head coach Shawn Finney said. "He did a great job of going after the ball, but overall, I was disappointed with our effort. We need to play hard and focused for 40 minutes. We didn't go for the jugular and that concerns me. We have not come close to doing that this season."

Savannah State (1-20), a Division I Independent playing in its 11th state this year, pulled within seven twice in the second half, but each time, the Green Wave pulled away. A Josh Barker three-pointer made it 54-47 with 10:57 to go, but Tulane's Chris Moore (career-high nine points) answered with a three-pointer of his own. Then with 8:49 to go, a Michael Mitchell jumper made it 58-51, but Tinsley scored on a fast break layup and a breakaway dunk to push the advantage back to double figures.

"You have to give Savannah State credit," Finney said. "They played hard and competed for the entire game. They are much better than their record."

Tulane had lost four in a row entering the contest.

"It was a good win for us, we needed it," Finney said. "We needed a W; it wasn't a pretty game, but it was a win. This will give us something to build on and help us get better."

The Green Wave shot just 41.8 percent (23-of-55) from the floor, while Savannah State hit 36.8 percent (25-of-68) of their shots. Tulane connected on 8-of-18 three-point attempts and was 23-of-33 from the foul line. The Tigers struggled at the line, connecting on just 7-of-20 free throws, while going 4-for-15 from three.

The Wave led by as many as 14 in the first half and held a 42-30 advantage at the break.

Tulane returns to Conference USA action on Wednesday evening, playing at UAB. The Green Wave returns home next Saturday, hosting Southern Miss at 7:30 p.m. in the second game of a Tulane Basketball doubleheader at Fogelman Arena. The first game features the Wave women against Memphis. Tickets are available for the game by calling 504-861-WAVE.