Reed Timmer (New Berlin, Wis.) added 19 points with three assists in the loss while Kale Abrahamson (West Des Moines, Iowa) recorded 16 points.
With nine seconds left in regulation the Bulldogs had the ball after a timeout, but Abrahamson’s three-point attempt glanced off the rim and Ore Arogundade’s (Chicago, Ill.) put back attempt was also off the mark to force the extra period.
“To be able to go on the road at an American Conference opponent and fight your way to have two shots to win it, is a positive,” said Drake head coach Ray Giacoletti. “We’ve got to get better at taking care of the basketball. They [Tulane] sped us up and got us making plays we don’t normally make. We turned it over and I don’t think we shared the basketball the way we have been.”
The Bulldogs finished the evening with 21 turnovers to seven assists.
With one minute left in the second period, Drake faced a 69-67 deficit before a dunk from freshman Dominik Olejniczak (Tourn, Poland) tied the contest. Tulane had the opportunity to retake the lead, but Arogundade made another defensive stop against Tulane’s Louis Dabney.
“I was really proud of Ore,” Giacoletti said. “He did an unbelievable job on Dabney. It wasn’t just one stop, but it was possession after possession after possession. He’s [Dabney] a tough offensive player that’s difficult to guard one-on-one.”
That stop in the final minute set in motion Abrahamson’s last second attempt at the win.
In overtime, Woodward hit a three-pointer on the Bulldogs’ second possession to put them up, 72-71.
“Graham got some clean looks and knocked down some big shots tonight,” Giacoletti said.
However, that make was followed by back-to-back misses and a turnover to allow Tulane to retake and extend the lead en route to the final 79-74 tally.
Tulane was led by 18 points each from Dabney and Malik Morgan. The pair scored eight of the Green Wave’s 10 points in overtime.
The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday evening when they host UMKC at the Knapp Center. Tipoff against the Kangaroos is scheduled for 7 p.m.
