Preview: Rice Owls at Tulane Green Wave NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — The Tulane Green Wave, riding a two-game winning streak, will host the Rice Owls in an American Athletic Conference men’s basketball matchup Sunday at Devlin Fieldhouse. Tulane (15-10) looks to continue its momentum after gritty road victories over North Texas, 77-71, and UAB, 55-54. The Green Wave have found success with a balanced attack, but are led by guard Rowan Brumbaugh. He has averaged 17.8 points over his last five games, including a 27-point performance in a win at Memphis on Feb. 1. Rice (11-15) aims to bounce back from an 85-75 home loss to East Carolina on Feb. 14. The Owls have shown flashes, including an 81-73 win over Florida Atlantic and a double-overtime victory against North Texas earlier this month, but have struggled for consistency. The game features a compelling backcourt duel. Rice’s offense runs through guard Trae Broadnax, who is in the midst of a stellar individual stretch. He is averaging 20.3 points per game over his last seven contests, highlighted by a 27-point effort in the loss to East Carolina. Containing him will be a primary focus for the Tulane defense. Conversely, Rice must find an answer for Brumbaugh, Tulane’s versatile playmaker who contributes across the board. In the win at UAB, he filled the stat sheet with 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Tulane holds the superior overall and conference record, but has been uneven at home in league play. Rice has proven capable of pulling off upsets on the road, as seen in its win at Wichita State in early January. The outcome could hinge on which team controls the tempo. Tulane will look to leverage its recent defensive prowess, while Rice will rely on Broadnax’s scoring to keep pace. Tipoff is set for Sunday afternoon. Tulane visits South Florida on March 1, while Rice hosts South Florida on Feb. 25.