The Green Wave would come out and cut the Bearcats lead to four after a Kevin Cross layup as the Green Wave was building momentum here to start the second half. Tulane guard Jalen Cook was continuing to show why he was unanimously named to the AAC Preseason First Team, as he continued to do a great job getting to the lane tonight and spark the Green Wave offense as the Green Wave trailed 53-47 with 14:30 remaining in the second half.
The Green Wave were looking to strike as this was a 58-52 game with 11 minutes remaining after Jeremiah Davenport stepped in and took a huge charge to create the turnover for the Bearcats. However, Ron Hunter was looking to establish the ball inside to Kevin Cross as he had eight points in as many minutes to start the second half.
The Green Wave would trail 62-56 with 8:50 remaining after DeJulius got out in running in transition after the turnover for the easy layup. The Green Wave would see star guard Jalen Cook pick up his fourth foul with just over eight minutes remaining and Ron Hunter was forced to go to the bench down the stretch. Ron Hunter made the switch to a 2-3 zone to start the second half as they looked to create stops and have done just that, as they would cut the Bearcats to two with just under seven minutes remaining.
The Bearcats would get a huge time stop as David DeJulius stepped in and took a charge as Jalen Cook picked up his fifth and final foul with five minutes left. DeJulius has been known for his defense, he showed it tonight as he was gassed up after forcing Cook to foul out with 5 minutes left and finishing with just 15 points while just two of those in the second half.
The Bearcats would lock in after Cook fouled out after two quick threes from Nolley and Adams-Woods made this a 76-66 game with just under four minutes left, and man was Fifth Third getting loud in the process. DeJulius was lighting a match here tonight at Fifth Third Arena after an incredible defensive performance’s versus one of the top players in the American Athletic Conference after holding Cook to just two second half points.
The Bearcats would keep their foot on the gas and take a huge 76-66 lead following consecutive triples as they looked to slam the door on Tulane. The Bearcats would lock in on the defensive end and hold out to pick up their first conference win of the season as they held on to defeat the Green Wave 88-77 as they improve to (10-4, 1-0 AAC) on the season.
“Any league win is a good win. Thats a really good basketball team,” said Bearcats head coach Wes Miller. “You win a league game at home with 20 assists that is something you will feel good about.”
Notables
- Landers Nolley led the way with 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting.
- Mika Adams-Woods finished with the second most points of his career with 18 on 7-of-8 shooting, while dishing out six assists in the process.
- Viktor Lakhin recorded his fifth double-double of the season as he recorded 13 points and 13 boards.
- David DeJulius locked down Jalen Cook who fouled out with 5 minutes left in this one, as he finished with 15 points.
The Bearcats (10-4, 1-0 AAC) will be back in action this Sunday as they travel to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to take on Temple (5-7) as they look to make it five straight.
