South Alabama @ Tulane preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 20, 2013 ) South Alabama 73, Tulane 84

Tulane will look to build off a solid second half in its latest win when it faces visiting South Alabama on Thursday in its final non-conference game. The Green Wave shot lights out over the final 20 minutes to defeat Nicholls on Monday and will try to carry it over against the Jaguars.

The sluggish play from Mike Dunleavy's team in a loss to Florida State was present in the first half against Nicholls, resulting in a 20-point deficit that was only overcome by shooting 66 percent in the second stanza. As they have been for the last few games, Cameron Reynolds and Jordan Cornish were the difference-makers against Nicholls by combining for 27 of their 34 points in the second half. Sophomore Trhae Mitchell filled up the stat sheet with nine points, nine rebounds, seven assists and four blocks as the Jaguars of the Sun Belt Conference snapped a two-game losing streak by defeating Eastern Illinois last week, but coach Matthew Graves expects a much stiffer challenge from the Green Wave. "They present a lot of problems because of their size and their length," Graves told the media. "We have to do a great job of getting into them and contesting their shots, otherwise they are going to shot right over us."

TV: 1 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT SOUTH ALABAMA (6-5): After a difficult debut with the Jaguars, Rodrick Sikes has been a model of consistency with 10 straight games in double figures. The junior transfer from Southwest Mississippi Community College has struggled from the field of late but continues to thrive from the foul line, where he has converted 32 of his last 37 attempts. Sophomore forward Josh Ajayi had registered a pair of double-doubles this season and has been close in the last two contests as he has combined for 21 points and 17 rebounds.

ABOUT TULANE (8-3): It has been a tale of two seasons for Melvin Frazier and the result has been fewer wins for the Green Wave. The 6-6 junior guard averaged 22 points and 8.2 rebounds as Tulane opened at 5-0, but has only mustered 12.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game as the Green Wave have gone 3-3 since. The same could be said of sophomore forward Samir Sehic, who played well over the first seven games, averaging 21.1 minutes and 13.5 points, but has seen his minutes cut to 15.2 per contest and as a result has scored only 7.7 points per game in the last four contests for the Green Wave, who open American Athletic Conference play next week at Temple.

TIP-INS


1. The Green Wave is 6-0 when it records at least 18 assists.

2. Tulane and South Alabama have played four times, but the only recent meeting was an 84-73 victory by the Green Wave in the 2013 CIT postseason tournament.

3. The Jaguars are 6-0 when holding an opponent to fewer than 60 points.

PREDICTION: Tulane 70, South Alabama 60