Nicholls State @ Tulane preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 4, 2012 ) Nicholls State 48, Tulane 65

Tulane returns from an eight-day layoff looking to keep its perfect home record intact when it hosts non-conference foe Nicholls on Monday. The Green Wave are coming off a loss to Florida State on Dec. 10, while the Colonels routed Culver-Stockton College at home on Saturday.

Nicholls is a high-scoring team, averaging 90.9 points behind the 1-2 punch of Roddy Peters (19.5 points) and Tevon Saddler (16.8). Tulane is not quite as explosive offensively, coming off a 53-point effort in the loss to the Seminoles, but coach Mike Dunleavy's squad is holding opponents to 70.9 points per game. Junior guard Melvin Frazier is the Green Wave's top scorer, averaging 17.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.4 steals, although he was held to a season-low three points by Florida State - his first single-digit scoring performance of the campaign. Senior swingman Cameron Reynolds provides a solid second scoring option, averaging 16.8 points and six rebounds, while sophomore forward Samir Sehic (11.9 points, 6.9 boards) gives Dunleavy production off the bench.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN3

ABOUT NICHOLLS (5-5): While Nicholls' defense this season hasn't been the hardest to score on - it has allowed 85.5 points per contest - the team has been opportunistic on the defensive end, posting a turnover margin of plus-3.5 and averaging 11 steals. Three players - Jahvaughn Powell (2.6), Saddler (2.3) and Kevin Johnson (2.1) are averaging over two steals, which helps the Colonels get plenty of easy baskets at the other end of the floor. Nicholls recorded a season high in steals with 18 in the 41-point win over Culver-Stockton College and finished with advantages of 48-9 in points off turnovers and 32-4 in fast-break points.

ABOUT TULANE (7-3): If there's one area in which Dunleavy would like to see improvement, it's at the free-throw line, where the Green Wave are shooting just 70.3 percent. With the team's top two scorers - Frazier and Reynolds - hitting 70.7 and 74.3 percent, respectively, Dunleavy isn't sure if a late lead is going to hold up when his best players are fouled. Sophomore Colin Slater (.889) and Sehic (.809) are the only regulars hitting above 80 percent, but as the games get closer - Tulane has had just two contests decided by fewer than 10 points - the free throws will mean even more, and Dunleavy is going to want his team hitting at a better clip.

TIP-INS

1. Reynolds recorded his fifth career double-double - and first this season - with 16 points and 11 rebounds in the loss to Florida State.

2. Tulane has registered at least 20 assists in four different contests this season and is undefeated in those games.

3. While the Green Wave rank 11th in the 12-team American Athletic Conference in offensive rebounding (9.7), they are second in the league in defensive rebounding (28.5).

PREDICTION: Tulane 86, Nicholls 80