Dec. 30, 2003

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Fans are invited to begin their New Year's Eve celebration with an afternoon visit to Fogelman Arena for a Tulane men's basketball game at 2 p.m. on Wednesday. The Green Wave hosts state rival Nicholls State in the game. Tickets are available at the door or by calling 504-861-WAVE.

Tulane (5-4) is looking to shake off a three-game losing streak, which includes defeats at the hands of a pair of undefeated SEC schools. LSU stopped the Wave in Baton Rouge on Dec. 23rd and an impressive Mississippi State squad upended Tulane on Saturday in the Nokia Sugar Bowl Classic. The Tigers and Bulldogs have currently combined for an 18-0 record.

Nicholls State comes to New Orleans with a 5-5 record following a Saturday loss to Ole Miss on the road. The Colonels already have two wins over Crescent City schools, as they defeated Loyola and Dillard earlier this season.

"Right now, we have to take care of ourselves," Tulane coach Shawn Finney said. "We are gaining experience, but still feeling our way. We can not concern ourselves with our opponents, but ourselves. If we value the basketball, take good shots and stay focused on defense, things will take care of themselves."

Tulane has four players averaging in double figures, led by junior Ben Benfield, from nearby River Ridge. Benfield has 11.8 points per game and leads the Green Wave with 18 three-pointers. Sophomore center Quincy Davis is averaging 11.7 points and 6.7 rebounds, while classmate Vytas Tatarunas has four double-doubles already this season. Tatarunas is scoring 11.0 points per game with a team-best 9.6 rebounds per outing. Senior veteran Wayne Tinsley will be playing in his 99th career game and chips in with 10.1 points per game.

The Colonels are led by a pair of junior college transfers. Point guard Willie Depron is the leading scorer for Nicholls with 16.9 points per game, including a 30-point outing against Southern. His 5.6 rebounds per game, 32 assists and 32 steals also lead the Colonels. Jason Wilkins, a 6-6 forward, has 11.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game; he leads Nicholls with 27 three-pointers. The third-leading scorer for the Colonels is junior Dominique Geason, a 6-5 forward from Kenner and Grace King High School, who has 9.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

"I hope to have a nice crowd at the game," Finney said. "It will be a fun way to spend New Year's Eve, watch some exciting college basketball, have dinner and then enjoy everything this city offers for the evening."

Tulane returns to action in a week, hosting national power Cincinnati on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at Fogelman Arena. That game will be the Conference USA opener for both teams and is scheduled to tip-off at 7 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 504-861-WAVE.