Southern Methodist @ Northern Iowa preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 21, 2011 ) Southern Methodist 57, Northern Iowa 50

Points likely will be at a premium Wednesday when SMU squares off against Northern Iowa in the Bahamas. This contest is part of the eight-team Battle 4 Atlantis tournament that features some of the nation's top teams.

No. 3 Villanova, No. 4 Arizona and No. 16 Purdue are the elite teams in the other three quarterfinal matchups, but SMU and Northern Iowa can hang with any of them defensively. The Mustangs rank fourth in the nation in points allowed (51) and have held their last two opponents to 72 points - combined. The Panthers gave up 86 points to defending national champion North Carolina in their season opener but since have yielded 45, 43 and 44 points in their last three outings. That lands Northern Iowa at 54.5 points allowed per game, good for 12th-best in the country.

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN3

ABOUT SMU (4-0): The Mustangs had two players - senior guard Ben Emelogu and freshman forward Everett Ray - record their first career double-doubles against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday. Leading scorer Shake Milton chipped in 17 points and made four 3-pointers, giving him 15 through four games and at least three in every contest. Jarrey Foster adds 14.5 points, while freshman Ethan Chargois (13.0 points, 7.0 rebounds) and Emelogu (10.8, 7.0) are additional pieces of the puzzle for SMU.

ABOUT NORTHERN IOWA (3-1): The Panthers have some capable scorers, but it all starts with Bennett Koch, who averages 17 points and has been particularly hot over the last two games. The senior forward was 8-of-8 against Wartburg en route to 25 points and added 21 against Chicago State on Saturday, shooting 7-of-9 in that affair. Tywhon Pickford, a 6-4 freshman guard, averages 10 rebounds to go with 9.5 points and has totaled 37 rebounds in the last three contests.

TIP-INS

1. The winner of this game will take on either No. 4 Arizona or North Carolina State.

2. Koch has taken 34 shots and 24 free throws on the season but only has three assists.

3. After shooting 72.5 percent and 75.8 percent from the foul line the last two years, Milton is 22-of-24 from the stripe this season.

PREDICTION: SMU 70, Northern Iowa 67