South Dakota State @ Tulane preview

It likely wasn’t how coach Mike Dunleavy Sr. envisioned Tulane’s first win of the season transpiring – a nail-biter against Coastal Carolina that saw his team nearly blow a late double-digit lead. The Green Wave will look for a more impressive showing when they take on South Dakota State Monday morning to tip off the Gulf Coast Showcase.

Up 13 with under nine to play on Tuesday, Tulane allowed Coastal Carolina to storm back and get within one point with less than a minute left but slipped away with an 81-76 victory. Redshirt freshman Shakwon Barrett was able to steady the ship for the Green Wave as he posted 10 assists while only committing two turnovers. “The confidence my coaches and teammates have in me makes the game easy,” Barrett told the media. “They know I can make plays. I’ve been making plays in practice, and watching games last year, I know what Coach (Dunleavy) wants to see.” Tulane has been miserable from the charity stripe in its two games hitting just 64 percent of its trips to the line but luckily for the Green Wave, the Chanticleers missed 11 of their 24 second half free throws to impede their comeback efforts.

TV: 11 a.m. ET, None

ABOUT TULANE (1-1): Tulane won its game against Coastal Carolina on the strength of its 3-point shooting as the Green Wave shot 48 percent from downtown with redshirt senior Jordan Cornish’s career-high six makes leading the way. Sophomore Caleb Daniels rebounded from an ugly opening night -- five points and seven turnovers -- scoring 16 of his team-high 22 points in the second half. Forward Samir Sehic recorded a double-double pitching in 15 points while leading the Green Wave with 13 rebounds.

ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (3-1): The Jackrabbits saw their three-game winning streak come to an end as they lost a back and forth battle with Florida Gulf Coast on Friday. Sophomore David Jenkins led his team in scoring for the second time this season, finishing with 29 points and five 3-pointers. South Dakota State battled foul trouble all night as three Jackrabbits fouled out – Jenkins, Mike Daum, and Tevin King – forcing coach T.J. Otzelberger to play seven players at least 20 minutes.

TIP-INS

1. This will be the first ever meeting between the Tulane and South Dakota State men’s basketball programs.

2. After being selected to the first AAC Weekly Honor Roll of the season, Tulane freshman Kevin Zhang followed up his 24 point and seven rebound debut with just five points on 1-of-4 shooting.

3. Daum is 45 points away from breaking Nate Wolter’s South Dakota State career scoring record of 2,363 points.

PREDICTION: Tulane 73, South Dakota State 64