East Carolina @ Tulsa preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 26, 2017 ) East Carolina 66, Tulsa 74

Tulsa and East Carolina look to get off on the right foot in American Athletic Conference play when they face off in their conference opener Thursday in Oklahoma. The Pirates enter the matchup having won four of five contests, including a victory over Grambling last Thursday, while the Golden Hurricane had their three-game winning streak snapped with a loss at Oklahoma State on Dec. 19.

East Carolina interim coach Michael Perry relies on a trio of players for much of the team's offensive production, with guards B.J. Tyson (15.5 points) and Isaac Fleming (14.6) and forward Kentrell Barkley (13) accounting for 60.7 percent of the points. The Pirates prefer to play the game close to the rim, connecting on just 27.1 percent of their 3-point attempts, though they are holding opponents to 29.1 percent from beyond the arc. Senior forward Junior Etou leads Tulsa in scoring, averaging 18.1 points, while junior guard Sterling Taplin contributes 12 points and 4.1 assists per contest. The Golden Hurricane do not possess a lot of height - the team starts three guards and two 6-8 forwards - but they've been beasts on the glass, outrebounding their opponents in five of their last six contests for a plus-8.5 margin.

TV: 5 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT EAST CAROLINA (6-5): Though East Carolina has hired a consulting firm and formed an advisory board to search for a full-time replacement for former coach Jeff Lebo, Perry has been building his resume with the team's recent success. The Pirates are 4-1 since Perry took over after Lebo's sudden resignation, moving over .500 for the first time since their season-opening win over Coppin State. What has been the biggest difference for the team is its never-give-up attitude thus far, rallying from deficits of 17 (Campbell), 12 (Grambling) and 10 (UNC Wilmington) points for victories, a trait that certainly will win Perry some favor with the administration as he tries to claim the job on a full-time basis.

ABOUT TULSA (7-5): It shouldn't come as a surprise for a Frank Haith-coached team, but the Golden Hurricane have been aggressive with the ball, ranking first in the AAC and 36th in the nation with 307 free throws attempted. Etou has been a big part of that, leading the conference and ranking ninth in the country with 102 attempts, but others are getting to the foul line as well, with three players - Curran Scott, Martins Igbanu and Taplin - receiving at least 33 opportunities in the first 12 contests. The Golden Hurricane have attempted 93 more free throws than their opponents, which has led to 68 more points from the line - a significant advantage for a team that is outscoring its foes by just 2.6 points overall.

TIP-INS

1. Barkley is one of three players in the AAC averaging at least 13 points and 6.5 rebounds (6.9).

2. Tulsa is shooting 46.3 percent on the season, including five games of at least 50 percent shooting.

3. The Golden Hurricane have dominated the all-time series 16-3, including an 8-1 record in games played in Tulsa.

PREDICTION: Tulsa 74, East Carolina 68