GAME NOTES: The Memphis Tigers close out a nine-game homestand on Saturday, as they welcome the Tulane Green Wave to FedEx Forum for an American Athletic Conference showdown.

Memphis opened league play against Houston on Wednesday and blasted the Cougars, 73-54. The win was the fifth straight for the Tigers, who have erased a slow start to the season to sit currently at 8-4 overall.

Tulane is sitting at a strong 10-3 overall and also enters this game having won its conference opener, knocking off East Carolina in Greenville on Wednesday, 67-59. The victory ended a two-game skein for the Green Wave, who lost to a couple of Top-25 foes (Washington and St. John's) prior.

This marks the 55th all-time meeting in this series. The Tigers holds a 45-9 edge all-time against the Green Wave. Memphis has won 22 straight meetings with Tulane and is 26-2 all-time at home in this series.

The Green Wave started slow against East Carolina, but used a 25-2 run to close out the first half and then knocked off the Pirates on the road in their AAC opener. Sophomore guard Jonathan Stark led the way with 22 points, thanks to 8-of-11 shooting from the floor. Junior guard Louis Dabney poured in 19 points, while sophomore guard Kajon Mack came off the bench to tally 10.

An efficient offensive squad, Tulane is shooting .465 from the floor overall, leading to an even 70 points per game. Dabney leads the team and is one of three players averaging double figures at 13.0 ppg. Stark is next in line at 12.4 ppg, followed by Jay Hook's 10.9 ppg. The trio have combined for 59 of the team's 79 3-pointers to date.

Sophomore guard Avery Woodson was on fire against Houston, as he hit six 3- pointers and finished with a career-high 23 points, leading the Tigers to a lopsided win against the Cougars. Fellow sophomore Austin Nichols was the perfect complement inside, recording a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Junior forward Trahson Burrell added 12 points for Memphis, which shot just under 50 percent from the floor in the game (31-of-63) and won its 11th straight conference opener.

The Tigers aren't the strongest offensive squad around, as they enter this contest with modest numbers at best. Memphis is averaging just 68.8 ppg on .446 shooting, but the team does still boast of a +8.5 scoring margin thanks to strong defense that limits foes to just 60.2 ppg. Nichols and Burrell lead the way up front. Nichols (11.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg) and Burrell (10.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg) are both shooting 50 percent from the floor or better. Woodson (8.9 ppg) is third in the scoring column and leads the team with 26 3-pointers.

Tulane certainly has the personnel and defensive grit to finally end its drought against Memphis, which won't overwhelm anyone offensively.