Tulane defeats Portland St 63-61

Tulane Edges Out Portland St in Thrilling 63-61 Victory

The Devlin Fieldhouse was electric on Monday night as the Tulane Green Wave hosted the Portland State Vikings in a non-conference matchup that had all the makings of a classic. In the end, it was Tulane's determination and collective effort that paid off, as they outlasted their visitors 63-61.

The game was a back-and-forth affair from the opening tip, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to gain a significant advantage early on. However, at halftime, Tulane found itself up by just one point, leading 24-23. The Green Wave would go on to extend their lead to as many as 12 points in the second half, before Portland State made a furious comeback that saw them trail by just two points with under a minute remaining.

In the end, it was Asher Woods' clutch free throws that sealed the win for Tulane. The senior guard, who finished with 21 points on an impressive 66.7% shooting night, sank both of his foul shots to put his team up by two, and then blocked a potential game-tying three-pointer attempt from Keyon Kensie Jr.

Woods was instrumental in the game's second half, scoring 10 of his 21 points after intermission. He also dished out three assists and grabbed seven rebounds, leading Tulane to a crucial non-conference victory.

Portland State, meanwhile, struggled with their outside shooting, going just 2-for-17 from beyond the arc. Kensie Jr., who led all scorers with 22 points, was the lone bright spot for the Vikings, hitting 2-of-3 three-point attempts and scoring at least 8 points in each half.

The game's final box score tells the story of a defensive battle that saw both teams combine to shoot just 40% from the field. However, it was Tulane's superior free throw shooting - they went 25-for-30 from the line, compared to Portland State's 10-of-16 - that proved to be the difference-maker.

For the Green Wave, this win marks a significant milestone in their non-conference schedule and serves as a much-needed boost to their postseason hopes. The loss is a tough one for Portland State, which had been riding high after a string of victories earlier in the season.

In the end, it was a game that came down to the wire, with both teams giving it their all. In the end, Tulane's experience and cohesion proved to be too much for the Vikings to overcome.

Game Leaders:

* Tulane:

+ Asher Woods: 21 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists

+ Scotty Middleton: 7 rebounds, 1 point, 1 steal

+ Asher Woods (again): 3 assists

* Portland State:

+ Keyon Kensie Jr.: 22 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist