Akron @ Tulane preview

Tulane looks for a second straight win when it takes on Akron on Friday afternoon in the first round of the DC Holiday Hoops Tournament at Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, D.C. The Green Wave topped Alcorn State on Monday, while the Zips come in on a four-game winning streak - most recently routing Division II foe Concord College by 50 points on Sunday.

Junior guard Teshaun Alexander paces the Tulane scoring attack, averaging 16.3 points, while senior forward K.J. Lawson is right behind him with 15 points per game. Coach Ron Hunter has been relying on that duo, as well as senior guard Christion Thompson (11.8 points, 6.3 rebounds), with the three players each averaging better than 31 minutes per contest. John Groce has a balanced scoring attack, with guard Tyler Cheese leading the Zips with 15.4 points, followed by guard Loren Cristian Jackson (14.5), forward Xeyrius Williams (14.4, 10.0 rebounds) and swingman Channel Banks (11.7 points). All four players are threats from beyond the 3-point line, with Banks hitting 30 3-pointers already, followed by Williams with 21 and Jackson and Cheese with 17 apiece.

TV: 2:30 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT AKRON (8-2): While Akron's offense gains a lot of attention. the Zips' defense is the key part of the team's success so far this season. Akron ranks fifth in the country in 3-point defense, holding opponents to 24.3 percent shooting, as well as eighth in the nation in field-goal percentage defense, with opposing teams shooting just 36.2 percent from the field. The Zips are 41st in the country in scoring defense (61.9 points) and have allowed 56.7 points over the current four-game winning streak.

ABOUT TULANE (8-2): Freshman Nobal Days doesn't have great numbers this season - averaging 3.4 points and 4.1 rebounds - but he has the trust of Hunter, who rarely plays freshmen big minutes, especially early in their first seasons. But Days draws rave reviews from Hunter for what he does when he's on the floor, which Hunter calls "the dirty work." Since 1997-98, Hunter has only played four freshmen more than Days' 21.6 minutes, and two of them - R.J. Hunter and George Hill - ended up first-round NBA draft picks.

TIP-INS

1. Tulane has won the turnover battle in nine of its first 10 games, with a turnover margin of plus-5.2 that ranks 18th nationally.

2. Akron is 23rd in the country in rebounding with 41.5 per game, although Williams is the only Zip averaging better than 5.3.

3. The winner of this game will face either Liberty or Towson in the championship game of the tournament Saturday.

PREDICTION: Akron 78, Tulane 65