Men’s basketball falls to Tulane in the Battle of Freret
November 6, 2015
Junior guar Jalen Gray drives to the hoop for a missed layup against Tulane University in the Devlin Field House. The Pack lost to the Green Wave 89-69 in the annual Battle of Freret exhibition game.
The men’s basketball team would put their new found speed and athleticism to the test in the traditional matchup against the Green Wave.
The Pack got off to a slow start offensively, trailing the Green Wave 23-10 in the early going. The team was out rebounded in the first half 30-19 and shot just 36 percent from the field. They trailed 41-27 at the half.
In the second half, the Pack would rally back and cut the score to eight midway through the half. However, turnovers and excessive fouls would take its toll on the Pack, putting them in a 20-point deficit in the closing minutes. The Green Wave would go on to defeat the Wolf Pack 89-69. Junior guard Jalen Gray led the team with 18 points and four assists. Forward Johnny Griffin Jr. added 17 points and five rebounds on 8-of-8 shooting in the game. Though the team was unable to hang on for the victory, Stacy Hollowell, head coach, saw this as a great learning experience for his young team.
“Coming over here we get to play a Division I team that is very talented. They have long, athletic guys. Hopefully this experience pays off for our young guys,” Hollowell said.
The team has been looking to implement more of a fast-paced offense based on athleticism and speed. One of the primary catalyst for this style of play is newly acquired forward Johnny Griffin Jr.
“He’s a joy to have on our team. His athleticism is very special. But what puts him over the top is his passion for the game,” Hollowell said.
For Griffin, this is his main attribute to the Pack this season.
“I just come to play the game. I’m an energy guy so I just try to play to the best of my ability,” Griffin said.
The team will need both Griffin and guard Jalen Gray at their best in their next matchup against Xavier University.
“We have to keep playing hard. Xavier is always a physical team. We have to stay solid and execute our offense,” Gray said.
Though the team had many positive and negative factors in Thursday night’s matchup, one of the keys to the success of the annual “Battle of Freret” was not rebounding or defense, but the growing fan base from the University.
“Our fans have given us wonderful support over the years. We want to continue to put an exciting product out there on the floor for years to come,” Hollowell said.
The team will travel to Xavier University to take on the Gold Nuggets on Nov. 9.
