Jan. 23, 2008

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NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- David Gomez led all scorers with 18 points and Tulane University used a 27-7 second half run over the final 10 minutes to rally for a 67-52 Conference USA victory over SMU on Wednesday.

Tulane (13-6, 3-2) trailed SMU (6-11, 0-4) by five points when Bamba Fall broke free for a two-handed dunk and his free throw following a Tulane foul gave the visitors a 45-40 lead with 10:17 remaining in the game.

However, Falls' three-point play would be the Mustangs' final points for nearly eight minutes. By the time Fall nailed a short jumper with just 2:18 remaining, Tulane had put the game out of reach.

Tulane out-shot SMU, 41.8 percent to 38.5 percent, and won the battle on the boards, 36-33. The Green Wave held SMU to seven points over the final 10 minutes to get their third straight win.

Tulane and SMU opened the second half with a pair of 3-pointers, but the Mustangs reeled off back-to-back baskets to take a 34-32 lead. Tulane quickly countered when Gomez hit a turnaround jumper to tie the game.

It was three minutes later before SMU's Jon Killen hit a 3-pointer to push them ahead 37-34. SMU's Alex Malone was fouled on a made lay-up and he converted the free throw and the Mustangs went up by six, 40-34.

Tulane then hit four straight points, but Derrick Roberts and Fall sandwiched a pair of baskets and one free throw around a put-back by Tulane's Donnavan Stith to extend the SMU lead to 45-40 at the 10:17 mark. Stith had 12 points on the night.

Tulane took a 46-45 advantage, its first lead of the second half, when Johnny Mayhane hit 1-of-2 free throws. Kevin Sims, who scored 13 for the Green Wave, scored two more free throws to push Tulane's score to 48-45. Then, Tulane's defense dug in and held SMU scoreless over an eight-minute timeframe.

Fall and Killen each led SMU with 15 points.

Tulane led at the half, 29-27.