Arkansas-Pine Bluff @ Tulsa preview

After a disappointing loss to Texas-Arlington in its second game of the season, Tulsa has won five straight games. The Golden Hurricane will return home Wednesday night to take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which has yet to win a Division I game while facing a tough non-conference slate.

While Tulsa has not lit up the scoreboard during its five-game winning streak, they are doing enough on the backs of solid defense, allowing just over 60 points per game in that span. But the Golden Hurricane have picked things up on offense the last two contests, shooting 48 percent from the field and and 42 percent from 3-point range. "We play great defense, we share the ball on offense, we take good shots, we take care of the ball," head coach Frank Haith said of what makes his team successful following the win against South Carolina State. As for the Golden Lions, they have struggled mightily in mostly pay-games, being outscored by an average of 20 points, and have been without leading scorer Shaun Doss for the last three games.

TV: 8 p.m. ET.

ABOUT ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF (1-5): The Golden Lions have had 12 players appear in more than half the games this season, headlined by junior forward Markedric Bell, who after struggling through the first four games has averaged 20 points over the last two. But is is swingman Dequan Morris seeing the most minutes, who averages just under double figures (9.8) while shooting 51 percent from the floor. Senior forward Marquell Carter, who missed two games, has cooled off since his 22-point showing against Kansas State, scoring just three total points in the last two.

ABOUT TULSA (6-1): Junior college guard Brandon Rachal has averaged over 20 points in the last five games and is shooting over 57 percent from the floor on the season. Backcourt mate Darien Jackson averages just under double digits (9.9) but has also been valuable as a ball handler, with almost three times as many assists as turnovers, in addition to securing 13 steals on the defensive end. Swingman Reggie Jones, who missed last season after transferring from Western Michigan, has been inserted into the starting lineup the last three contests and has averaged 10 points in that time.

TIP-INS

1. This is the best start to a season for Tulsa since 2009-2010.

2. Tulsa has won its last 14 non-conference games at the Reynolds Center dating to 2018-2019.

3. Arkansas-Pine Bluff is 339th in the nation with a .59 assist-turnover ratio.

PREDICTION: Tulsa 76, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 54