GAME NOTES: Riding a wave of four straight wins, the Memphis Tigers will try to keep the streak alive as they host the Houston Cougars in their American Athletic Conference opener at FedEx Forum.

Houston will have something to say about that, though. The Cougars are on a two-game win streak and are 7-4 on the season. The team is coming off a demolition of Mississippi Valley State, 80-53, on Sunday night.

Memphis sports an identical 7-4 overall record, but the Tigers have proven to be very comfortable playing at FedEx Forum this season, owning a 6-2 mark at home. This contest against Houston is the ninth leg of a 10-game homestand for Memphis.

The Tigers own a commanding 28-13 all-time series lead over Houston, and have won four of the last five games between the conference foes. But the Cougars had the last laugh, defeating Memphis last season, 77-68, at home in the most recent clash.

It was a nice day offensively for Houston against Mississippi Valley State, as the Cougars connected on 48.1 percent of their shots from the floor, including 13-of-30 from 3-point range and adding 15-of-19 from the free-throw line. Jherrod Stiggers led the way for Houston with 26 points in the win, going 8-of-11 from beyond the arc. Cavon Baker added in 13 points with four assists, and Devonta Pollard chipped in 12 points and seven boards. Danrad Knowles pulled down a team-best 10 rebounds in the win.

Houston's scoring offense has been deadly at times this season. The Cougars have scored at least 73 points in each of their last three games, and have scored 80 or more points in their last two. They enter this clash with Memphis netting 72.0 ppg on 39.8 percent shooting from the field, and are holding opponents defensively to 67.0 ppg. Stiggers leads the team in scoring headed over to Memphis, averaging 17.4 ppg with a team-best 29 assists. Pollard comes in at second on the squad with 12.3 ppg (adding in a team-high 7.6 rpg), L.J. Rose is third at 11.5 ppg (though he's only played in four games), and Eric Weary Jr. contributes 10.3 ppg.

Memphis was absolutely dominant in the team's last outing against Western Illinois, as the Tigers held the Fighting Leathernecks to 30.5 percent shooting from the floor en route to a 78-51 victory - the team's fourth win in a row. The Tigers connected on 50 percent of their tries from the floor, as Nick King, Calvin Godfrey and Austin Nichols each scored 12 points to lead the team. King added 10 rebounds for the double-double. Trahson Burrell and Pookie Powell each netted 10 points to round out the double-digit scorers in the offensive explosion.

Five players scored in double figures in the win over Western Illinois, but only two are averaging at least 10.0 ppg this season for the Tigers. Nichols leads Memphis at 11.4 ppg this season, while Burrell follows in his wake at 10.8 ppg. Still, the Tigers are averaging 68.4 ppg this season and are holding opponents to just 60.8 ppg on 36.9 percent shooting from the field. Shaq Goodwin is the next closest to double digits at 9.1 ppg, and also leads the team in rebounding at 6.2 boards per outing.

Both teams are very good offensively, although Houston's scoring defense might have a little bit of trouble containing what is a very well-rounded lineup for the Tigers. Memphis is a tough team to face at the FedEx Forum.