Wednesday, March 12th, 7:00 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: FedExForum (18,400) -- Memphis, Tennessee. Television: None. Home Record: Tulane 10-6, Marshall 13-4. Away Record: Tulane 4-7, Marshall 3-8. Neutral Record: Tulane 2-1, Marshall 0-1. Conference Record: Tulane 6-10, Marshall 8-8. Series Record: Series is tied, 3-3.

GAME NOTES: The eighth-seeded Marshall Thundering Herd and the ninth-seeded Tulane Green Wave will do battle tonight in the first round of the 2008 Conference USA Tournament. The winner will have the unenviable task of facing top-seeded Memphis in the quarterfinal round tomorrow. Tulane carried an eight-game losing streak into the regular season finale against East Carolina, but the squad scored a much-needed 77-75 triumph over the Pirates. The Green Wave were just 6-10 against league foes after a promising start to the campaign. As for Marshall, it carries a 16-13 overall record into this clash, and the team has split its 16 conference games. The Thundering Herd rotated wins and losses over the final six tilts, and it is fair to say that they have been inconsistent this season. Marshall beat Tulane twice during the regular season to tie the all-time series at 3-3.

Tulane is led by David Gomez, a Second Team All-Conference USA performer who is averaging 14.5 ppg on 53.2 percent shooting from the floor. He is pulling down 6.1 rpg to go along with 45 blocks. As for Kevin Sims, he is netting 12.2 ppg despite his poor 39.6 percent shooting from the field. Tulane is scoring 66.6 ppg, but the club is limiting opponents to an almost identical 66.7 ppg on 40.6 percent shooting from the field. The Green Wave are last in the conference in offensive rebounds per game, but the team is strong enough defensively to stay in most contests.

Marshall is scoring 68.0 ppg while allowing 66.3 ppg to the opposition. Mark Dorris is netting 13.9 ppg, but he is shooting on 39.6 percent from the field. Markel Humphrey is close behind in scoring with 13.3 ppg, and Tirrell Baines is generating 11.4 ppg. The Thundering Herd are last in the conference in field goal percentage defense, as they are permitting opponents to shooting 44.8 percent from the floor. They don't shoot or defend the three-pointer with much success, and they are near the bottom in both assists and blocked shots. Still, Marshall has won its fair share of games.

Give an edge to the Thundering Herd in this contest, although Tulane figures to be in it until the final buzzer.

Predicted Outcome

Marshall 70, Tulane 68