by Don Mooney
FORT WORTH, Texas ––Kevin Cross led Tulane to a 82-76 quarterfinal win over Wichita State on Friday night to advance to the American Conference Semifinals for the second straight year. Tulane improves to 20-10 on the year, making it the first time since the 2012-13 season when the team went 20-15.
Cross grabbed his fifth double-double of the season scoring 24 points and nabbing 13 rebounds. Jaylen Forbes totaled 19 points and seven rebounds. R.J. McGee tied his career high 17 points and brought down seven rebounds. Jalen Cook scored 13, with five rebounds and five assists.
Sion James led the team with eight assists and seven blocks on the night. Seven blocks is the most a Tulane player has had in an AAC tournament game, a record set by James last year in the quarterfinals. Looking to command the game early, Tulane got out to a 13-point led midway through the first half. The large defict wouldn’t last long as the Shockers would fight back and cut the leaf to six at the half, 46-40.
82 is the most points a Tulane team has scored in an AAC tournament game. 43 rebounds and 13 blocks also set Tulane AAC single game records.
Cutting the lead to one, four times, Wichita State was never able to take the game from Tulane. The Green Wave will face Memphis in the semifinals tomorrow at 4 p.m.