Wednesday, March 18th, 9:00 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: Donald W. Reynolds Center (8,355) -- Tulsa, Oklahoma. Television: ESPNU. NIT Record: Northwestern 2-3, Tulsa 10-6. Series Record: First-ever meeting.

GAME NOTES: Fourth-seeded Tulsa and fifth-seeded Northwestern meet tonight in the first round of the 2009 NIT. The winner moves on to the second round to collide with either top-seeded Auburn or eighth-seeded Tennessee-Martin. Northwestern is 2-3 all-time in the NIT, as the club has made three previous appearances in the event. The Wildcats, who are 17-13 overall, have lost their last two outings, including a setback to Minnesota in the Big Ten Conference Tournament. They finished just 8-10 versus Big Ten foes during the regular season and carry a 4-8 road record into this evening's tilt. As for Tulsa, it hopes to duplicate last season's postseason success, as the team won the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) championship. The Golden Hurricane have made eight previous NIT appearances and own a 10-6 record in the event. They have won the title twice, most recently in 2001. Tulsa is 24-10 overall this season, and the club finished 12-4 against Conference USA opposition during the regular season. The Golden Hurricane did reach the C-USA Tournament title tilt on Saturday, but the result was an ugly 64-39 loss to Memphis. This game marks the first-ever meeting between Northwestern and Tulsa on the hardwood.

Northwestern is a mediocre offensive team at best, as the club is scoring only 63.6 ppg on 44.5 percent shooting from the floor. Fortunately, the Wildcats are limiting opponents to 60.3 ppg on 42.8 percent shooting despite the fact that they are being outrebounded by 4.8 boards per contest. Kevin Coble scored 21 points for Northwestern against Minnesota in the league tournament, but none of his teammates managed more than eight points. Overall this season, Coble paces the club with 15.5 ppg and 41 steals. Craig Moore isn't far behind with his 14.2 ppg, and he is a 40.4 percent shooter from three-point range. Michael Thompson brings 10.1 ppg to the mix on 42.1 percent three-point efficiency, and he has dished out 112 assists. Four players have started every game for Northwestern this season, and that continuity has certainly been beneficial.

Tulsa connected on only 26.3 percent of its field goal attempts against Memphis in the C-USA Tournament championship game, including a 2-of-14 effort from three-point range. Fortunately, the level of competition isn't nearly as stiff this evening. Both Ben Uzoh and Jerome Jordan are scoring 14.0 ppg for the Golden Hurricane this season, and while Uzoh tops the roster with 3.6 apg and 51 steals, Jordan is ripping down 8.6 rpg to complement an impressive total of 88 blocks. Jordan is shooting 58.8 percent from the floor as well, and he is a solid free throw shooter for a post player. The third and final double-digit scorer on the roster is Ray Reese, who brings 10.4 ppg to the mix. Tulsa is netting 67.1 ppg this season while limiting opponents to 61.1 ppg on 39 percent field goal efficiency. Also key is the fact that the club is outrebounding foes by 6.1 rpg.

While Northwestern comes from a more prestigious conference than Tulsa, the Golden Hurricane have the obvious advantage of playing at home tonight. Uzoh and Jordan will lead the way to a narrow triumph.

Predicted Outcome

Tulsa 68, Northwestern 63