SMU’s Jon Killen drives to the basket against the University of Houston Cougars in the Mustangs’ 99-71 loss last week. (John Schreiber)

The SMU (6-10, 0-3) men’s basketball team will try to break its five- game losing streak tonight in New Orleans against the Tulane Green Wave (12-6, 2-2). The Mustangs almost got their first conference win Saturday night against Tulsa, but lost by one point after a last-second bucket.

In the game against Tulsa, senior co-captain Derrick Roberts returned one game after being sidelined with a groin injury. He came off the bench and energized the team with tough defense and key shots down the stretch.

Senior guard, and team co-captain, Jon Killen and freshman forward Papa Dia have led SMU in scoring through conference play. In three conference games, Killen averaged 17 points per game and Dia averaged 16 points per game.

Killen has also been an iron man for the Mustangs this year. On top of starting every game, he has averaged 34.2 minutes per game and played the entire game against the University of Houston Cougars.

Junior center Bamba Fall has also put in key minutes in conference play. Coming off the bench for two of the games, he is averaging 10.7 points and a team-high 6.7 rebounds per game.

Off the court, the Mustangs received two academic awards last week. Killen received the Myers’ Brothers Academic Award that recognizes athletes’ achievements in the classroom, on the court and in the community. The entire team was also recognized by the university for having the most improved grade point average of any SMU athletic team.

The Mustangs hold a slight edge over Tulane historically. SMU is 10-9 against the Green Wave and hopes to stop the team from pulling even in the all-time series. The two teams have faced each other in every decade since the 1950s.

Tulane’s offense has featured a balanced scoring attack that relies on three players currently scoring in double figures. Forwards David Gomez and Robinson Louisme are both averaging in double figures. They are both big men who will test Fall and Dia down low.

Guard Kevin Sims also averages in double figures and runs the offense. The quick guard leads the team with nearly four assists per game and forces turnovers in the frontcourt. He averages 1.7 steals per game.

The game will take place tonight at 7 at Fogelman Arena.