HENDERSON, Nev. (Interstat) — Two of the nation’s hottest nonconference teams will clash in the desert Saturday when the UC San Diego Tritons host the Tulane Green Wave in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game at Dollar Loan Center. The Tritons (8-1), riding high after an 80-74 road win at Long Beach State last Saturday, boast one of the best records in the country. Their lone blemish is a six-point loss at Nevada on Dec. 2. UC San Diego’s balanced attack is led by guard Aidan Burke, who is averaging 14.4 points per game and scored 18 in the win over the Beach. They will face a Tulane squad (7-3) that has won three of its last four, including an 84-72 victory over Tougaloo on Wednesday. The Green Wave are powered by guard Rowan Brumbaugh, who is coming off a 22-point, 6-assist performance and has scored 17 or more points in five of his last six games. Brumbaugh averages a team-high 18.2 points per contest. This neutral-site matchup presents a classic contrast. UC San Diego has built its record with defensive consistency, holding opponents to an average of 73.2 points. Tulane, averaging 77.7 points per game, will test that defense with an up-tempo style led by Brumbaugh and Scotty Middleton, who added 14 points and 6 assists against Tougaloo. The game is a final major nonconference test for both before league play begins. Tulane opens American Athletic Conference action on Dec. 31, while UC San Diego begins Big West play on Jan. 1. Saturday’s winner will secure a pivotal resume-building victory heading into the heart of the season. Tipoff is set for Dec. 13, 2025, at Dollar Loan Center.