NEW ORLEANS - B-CU shot just 29 percent from the field in the second half as they dropped the opening game of the 2024 Cancun Challenge to Tulane, 72-57, Tuesday night at Devlin Fieldhouse.
It was Bethune-Cookman (1-4) that jumped in front as
Brayon Freeman provided nine of the first 11 B-CU points to go in front, 11-6 through the first six minutes of play.
A steal and fast break dunk by Kaleb Banks gave Tulane (4-1) its first lead since the opening minutes at 17-16 midway through the first half. The Green Wave would go up as much as 14 in the half on a Mari Jordan three-ball with three minutes to half.
Through the first 20 minutes of play, Freeman led all scorers with 14, with the rest of the Wildcats combining for just 16 to go into the break down, 42-31.
The Wildcats opened the second half well, keeping pace with Tulane and cutting the deficit to single-digits again at 49-40 on a pair of Freeman free throws.
From there, the Wildcats went cold as the Green Wave lead ballooned to as much as 18 at 70-55. The Cats managed only nine makes on 31 second-half shots, including two of 11 on threes. Tulane did not fare significantly better, shooting 36 percent from the floor and 2-10 on threes, but it was enough to power the home team to the 72-57 win.
- Brayon Freeman led all scorers with 22 points on 8-19 shooting with three rebounds, four assists, and a steal.
- Reggie Ward Jr. added 11 with seven boards.
- Trey Thomas was the only other Wildcat in double figure with 10.
- 18 Tulane points came on second-chance opportunities.
The Wildcats will now head from one beach to another as they depart for Cancun, Mexico for the remaining two games of the 2024 Cancun Challenge. They are set to face North Dakota on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 3 p.m. at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya.
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