Mississippi State @ Tulane preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 19, 2015 ) Tulane 59, Mississippi State 69

Just a couple of weeks into the season, Mississippi State already has staked its claim as one of the SEC's top defensive teams. The Bulldogs look to remain perfect on the season Thursday when they face fellow unbeaten Tulane at the Myrtle Beach Invitational in South Carolina.

Over the last three games, the Bulldogs are giving up 54 points per game and allowing the opposition to shoot only 36.8 percent, plus they are blocking five shots per contest during that span. For the season, they are yielding 57.8 points and the team earned praise from coach Ben Howland after their recent 82-59 win over New Orleans. "I thought we played even better than the last game," said Howland. "I'm so happy with the defense and we did a great job on the glass." Tulane should provide a good test as the Green Wave have scored at least 76 points in every game and have a dynamic lead guard in Teshaun Hightower.

TV: 2 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (4-0): After beating Louisiana Monroe and New Orleans in its last two games, Mississippi State will attempt to take down a third straight opponent from the state of Louisiana. Tyson Carter averages a team-high 16.5 points and a squad-best 4.5 assists, while Robert Woodard II chips in 13.3 points and Reggie Perry adds 12.8 points and a team-high 11 rebounds. The team only has made 18 3-pointers in four games, half of which have come from Carter, and the Bulldogs are shooting 28.1 percent from long range as a group.

ABOUT TULANE (3-0): Hightower averages 19.3 points on 50 percent shooting and has been particularly consistent with 18-to-21 points in every game thus far. The team rolled over Northwestern State its last time out, posting a 79-52 triumph as Hightower registered 19 points and three of the team's 14 steals. Jordan Walker and K.J. Lawson contribute 13.7 points, while Christion Thompson enters with solid all-around averages of 12.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.3 steals.

TIP-INS

1. The winner of this game plays the winner of Villanova and Middle Tennessee on Friday. The losers of the two games also play Friday.

2. Nobody on Tulane has more than two blocks so far.

3. Carter is shooting 84.3 percent from the foul line, but his teammates aren't enjoying that same level of success as Mississippi State shoots just 63.2 percent from the stripe as a team.

PREDICTION: Mississippi State 81, Tulane 66