NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — In a display of offensive efficiency and defensive tenacity, the Tulane Green Wave opened their season with a convincing 85-72 victory over the Samford Bulldogs in a non-conference men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Monday night at Devlin Fieldhouse.

A crowd of 1,467 watched as the Green Wave, leveraging a significant advantage in shooting accuracy and ball security, controlled the contest from the opening tip. Tulane never trailed after establishing an early lead, taking a 43-33 advantage into halftime and maintaining a comfortable margin throughout the second half to secure the 13-point win.

The game was a tale of two contrasting offensive philosophies. Tulane’s attack was a model of precision and ball movement, while Samford’s was hampered by a stagnant offense and a slew of turnovers.

Tulane’s offensive execution was nearly flawless. The Green Wave scored their 85 points on just 64 possessions, translating to an elite offensive rating of 132.5. They were remarkably efficient from the field, connecting on 31 of 53 shot attempts for a 58.5 percent clip. Their prowess extended beyond the arc, where they hit 11 of 21 three-pointers, and to the free-throw line, where they were a near-perfect 12 of 13.

Samford, conversely, struggled to find a consistent rhythm. The Bulldogs managed 72 points from 70 possessions, resulting in an offensive rating of 102.7. They shot 25 of 61 from the floor, a 41 percent rate, and were a serviceable 12 of 31 from three-point range. Their efforts at the charity stripe were less effective, making only 10 of 17 attempts. The Bulldogs’ offensive struggles were compounded by 11 turnovers, which Tulane converted into multiple scoring opportunities.

Defensively, Tulane was dominant. The Green Wave amassed 10 steals and 6 blocks, disrupting Samford’s offensive sets repeatedly. Their defensive pressure was a key factor in the turnover differential, as Tulane committed only 7 turnovers of their own. The Green Wave also shared the ball effectively, tallying 10 assists as a team.

Samford did find one area of significant advantage on the glass, corralling 10 offensive rebounds to Tulane’s 2. This effort on the offensive boards gave the Bulldogs extra possessions but they were unable to capitalize fully against Tulane’s stout interior defense, which was led by a trio of shot-blockers. The Bulldogs recorded 4 assists, 4 steals, and 3 blocks as a team.

The individual performances highlighted the collective strength of the Green Wave. Curtis Williams Jr. led a balanced Tulane scoring attack with 22 points, adding 6 rebounds and 2 assists in 35 minutes of action. He was closely followed by Asher Woods, who poured in 24 points to go along with 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Rowan Brumbaugh provided a strong all-around contribution with 12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks, while Tyler Ringgold anchored the defense with 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 blocks.

For Samford, the night belonged to Jadin Booth, who turned in a stellar individual performance in a losing effort. Booth was the game’s high scorer, dropping 34 points in 34 minutes on the court. He also chipped in 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Dylan Faulkner provided a strong interior presence for the Bulldogs, nearly notching a double-double with 16 points and 8 rebounds, while also blocking 2 shots. Keaton Norris facilitated the offense with a team-high 7 assists and added 10 points.

With the victory, Tulane begins its season with a record of 1-0. The Green Wave will look to build on this momentum when they return to Devlin Fieldhouse to host Texas State on Saturday.

The loss drops Samford to 0-1 to start the year. The Bulldogs face a challenging road ahead, with their next contest a tough road test at Arkansas on Nov. 14.

The outcome aligned with pregame analytics, as Interstat’s ELO system had projected Tulane with a 69.60 percent probability to win. On this night, the Green Wave turned that probability into a decisive reality, using a superior shooting performance and disruptive defense to dispatch the visiting Bulldogs.