A dominant performance from one key contributor propelled Tulane to an 81-75 victory over Rice at Devlin Fieldhouse on Saturday. The Green Wave (Tulane) extended their lead over the Owls (Rice) by six points, outscoring them 45-42 in the second half. The Green Wave's 36-33 advantage in the first half set the stage for their eventual win.
The Green Wave's victory, their first over the Owls this season, marked a significant upset, given the significant difference in NET rankings between the two teams. The Green Wave (NET #185) were expected to be outmanned by the Owls (NET #248), but instead, they capitalized on their opponent's shortcomings to secure a crucial conference win.
A 29-point, 10-rebound performance from AJ Dybantsa set the tone for Tulane, but it was his shooting efficiency that made the difference, as he made 5 of 7 field goal attempts and 2 of 4 three-point attempts. His ability to draw fouls and convert at the free throw line, where he made 12 of 16 attempts, was also crucial in the game's outcome.
With the game on the line, Rowan Brumbaugh's all-around play was pivotal, as he scored 19 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists. His 7 of 15 shooting from the field, including 3 of 9 three-point attempts, showcased his ability to stretch the defense and create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. Tyler Ringgold's contributions, meanwhile, were more nuanced, as he provided a spark off the bench with 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, while also blocking a shot on the defensive end.
Despite the loss, Nick Anderson's 29 points on 7-13 shooting from the field and 3-6 from beyond the arc were a bright spot for Rice, though ultimately not enough to secure a victory. His efficiency at the free throw line, going 8-8, was a testament to his focus, but it was not enough to propel his team to a win.
Trae Broadnax's 16 points and six assists provided a spark for Rice, but his limited rebounding output hindered his overall impact on the game. Finishing with 9 points, Jalen Smith's shooting struggles from the field and beyond the arc were a key factor in Rice's inability to keep pace with Tulane.
The remaining players on both rosters largely adhered to their established season trends.
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CORRECTPredicted
Final
The pre-game prediction proved to be correct as Tulane emerged victorious by a margin of six points. While the margin was within the predicted range, the outcome itself was not unexpected given the Green Wave's impressive shooting display.
Tulane's surge to a season-high effective field goal percentage and three-point shooting percentage was the decisive factor in this game. The team's ability to stretch the defense with its outside shooting and capitalize on the extra space created by its own rebounding prowess proved too much for Rice to handle. Conversely, Rice's inability to match Tulane's rebounding rate and its slightly lower effective field goal percentage meant the Owls were consistently on the back foot, unable to keep pace with the Green Wave's relentless offense.
With this pivotal win, Tulane has maintained its position in the American Athletic Conference standings, now holding a slim advantage over several teams in the conference's middle tier. They will continue to focus on securing a strong finish to the regular season, with the ultimate goal of emerging victorious in the AAC conference tournament to claim the auto-bid. Meanwhile, Rice's loss has pushed them further down the conference standings, increasing the difficulty of their path to the conference tournament title. With their record now at 11-16, the Owls will need to regroup and rebound in their final stretch of games, as they strive to avoid a first-round exit in the AAC tournament.
The loss for Rice has all but sealed their fate as the AAC's bottom dweller, a reality that will require the program to reevaluate its trajectory.