Preview: Tulane vs. Charlotte in American Athletic Conference Tournament

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking to reverse late-season slides will meet when the Tulane Green Wave and Charlotte 49ers open play in the American Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament on Thursday at Legacy Arena.

The 10th-seeded Green Wave (16-14) and the seventh-seeded 49ers (15-16) face off in a single-elimination game where the winner advances and the loser’s season likely ends.

Tulane arrives having lost four consecutive games, including a heartbreaking 96-95 overtime defeat to Memphis on Sunday. Despite the skid, the Green Wave feature one of the conference’s hottest players in guard Rowan Brumbaugh. He is coming off a career-high 31-point performance against Memphis and has averaged 19.1 points over his last seven contests.

Charlotte has dropped three of its last four, most recently an 83-60 loss at South Florida. The 49ers will look to guard Dezayne Mingo to catalyze their offense. Mingo posted a 10-assist double-double in a win over East Carolina on Feb. 21 and scored 19 points in a narrow loss at Tulsa.

The teams met once during the regular season, with Charlotte earning a 73-70 home victory on Jan. 23. That result gives the 49ers a potential mental edge, but the neutral-site setting in Birmingham changes the dynamic.

For Tulane, containing Mingo and finding consistent scoring support for Brumbaugh will be critical. For Charlotte, slowing Brumbaugh’s offensive surge and improving upon recent defensive efforts are paramount. Both teams have shown the ability to win close games, setting the stage for a competitive tournament opener.

The winner will advance to face the tournament’s second seed in the quarterfinal round on Friday.