Tulane @ Middle Tennessee St. preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 13, 2014 ) Tulane 44, Middle Tennessee St. 71

Tulane hopes to improve its rebounding in the second round of the Myrtle Beach Invitational, but at this point there almost isn't anywhere to go but up. The Green Wave were overwhelmed by Mississippi State on Thursday and hope for a crisper effort Friday against Middle Tennessee.

Tulane shot 39 percent from the field and 36 percent from 3-point range in Thursday's loss and got obliterated on the boards, 41-16. "As long as I've been coaching, I've never been in a situation where the rebound situation was what it was," Tulane coach Ron Hunter said. "We were absolutely dominated. ... You just aren't going to win many games that way. ... It's just, we had a lot missed shots." None of the nine players who saw action for Tulane had more than three rebounds, although K.J. Lawson and Ray Ona Embo contributed in other ways on the stat sheet. Middle Tennessee was thumped by No. 15 Villanova in Thursday's opener, absorbing a 98-69 defeat as the Blue Raiders allowed 18 3-pointers and struggled to stay close all afternoon.

TV: Noon ET, ESPNU

ABOUT TULANE (3-1): The Green Wave recorded 14 steals on Thursday, five by Ona Embo and three by Jordan Walker. Lawson pitched in two steals to go with 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including a couple of 3-pointers. Christion Thompson recorded 12 points as well while Walker made three 3-pointers en route to 11 points and had six of the team's 13 assists.

ABOUT MIDDLE TENNESSEE (3-2): The Blue Raiders missed 14 of their 18 3-pointers against Villanova with Antonio Green going 0-of-5 from long range. Donovan Sims led the way with 18 points but also had four of the team's 15 turnovers, while C.J. Jones contributed 16 points and Tyson Jackson had 12 on 5-of-7 shooting. Eli Lawrence was the only player who scored off the bench for Middle Tennessee as he registered 10 points and a team-high six rebounds in a productive 28-minute run.

TIP-INS

1. Prior to his productive outing against Villanova, Sims had totaled 13 points in the first four games.

2. Thompson has not recorded a turnover in three of the Green Wave's four games.

3. Lawson has scored between 12 and 14 points in all four outings.

PREDICTION: Tulane 62, Middle Tennessee 52