Feb. 3, 2006

NEW ORLEANS, La. - The Tulane University men's basketball team will host Marshall University on Saturday evening as game two of a Green Wave basketball doubleheader at Fogelman Arena. The Wave women host UTEP at 5 p.m., followed by the men's game. Tulane's men will be looking for their third straight victory and their fourth win in the last five games. The first 300 fans will receive free T-shirts courtesy of the Tulane Alumni Association.

Tickets are available at the Tulane Box Office located at Fogelman Arena or by calling 504-247-1240 or 1241.

"We knew this would be an important stretch of the season," Tulane head coach Dave Dickerson said. "We needed to get better every day in order to give us a chance to be successful in this stretch, but our goal since we came back to New Orleans is just to play hard. We aren't looking back and we aren't looking ahead, we're just looking to play hard today."

The Green Wave defeated SMU on Wednesday evening as its two seniors combined for 37 of the team's 59 points. Quincy Davis scored a season-best 25 points to go with seven rebounds. In the Wave's seven Conference USA games thus far this season, Davis is averaging 14.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. He is shooting 59.2 percent from the field and has also blocked 12 shots in those games. Tatarunas, meanwhile, has tallied 33 points with 14 rebounds in his last three games, including a 12-point, seven-rebound effort on Wednesday.

"I am happy for our seniors that they are playing well," Dickerson said. "The way they played in our last game was key for us, we would not have won without that. We need those guys to continue to play that way in order for us to continue to improve as a team."

Marshall is on a hot streak of late, having won two of its last three games to improve to 9-10 overall and 2-4 in Conference USA play. The Thundering Herd's last win was at home against East Carolina while their previous win was a big-time upset of No. 9 West Virginia on the road. Mark Patton, a 6-9 senior center, leads the Herd with 13.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while 5-11 sophomore guard Joe Miles and 6-4 junior forward Travis Aikens both come off the bench to average double figures. Miles averages 11.3 points while Miles has 10.3 points per outing. Amazingly, 14 of Marshall's 19 games have been decided by 10 points or less - the Herd is 8-6 in those contests.

"Marshall comes in with a big man in Patton who is as good as any post player in the league," Dickerson said. "And they have excellent guards who start and who come off the bench. We need to be prepared to guard them in the full and the half court. They have played a tough schedule and shown they can win games on the road with the win over West Virginia. I am excited about the challenge, but more excited to see if we can continue to improve."

This will be the first men's basketball meeting between Tulane and Marshall. The Thundering Herd is one of six new members in Conference USA this season.

Following the Marshall game, the Green Wave hosts next-door neighbor Loyola in its final non-conference contest of the season on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. For ticket information for all Green Wave athletic events, contact the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office in Fogelman Arena at 504-247-1240 or 1241.