The news caught Ben Uzoh off guard.

The Tulsa senior has celebrated 70 victories in his first three seasons, but this year brings his team's first 3-0 start.

"I didn't even realize it," said Uzoh, TU's leading scorer. "We're definitely on a roll right now and it feels good.

"Things are really coming together and we're going to keep pushing forward and take it one game at a time."

The Golden Hurricane's next contest is 3 p.m. Saturday, when South Alabama invades the Reynolds Center.

Uzoh was asked what improvements his team has made from the opening game.

"Our overall defense has definitely been there," Uzoh said. "We can definitely improve on it, that's the funny thing. Our chemistry is definitely getting better every day in practice and it's showing in games."

Tulsa survived a three-games-in-five-days stretch with a 59-45 win over Arkansas-Little Rock on Tuesday.

"I do realize we were a little tired on Tuesday," said TU coach Doug Wojcik, whose team has also beaten Saint Mary's and Florida International. "But we still found a way to win by 14 against a very good defensive team, a very strong team."

Fatigue may have resulted in an off day shooting the basketball. The Hurricane struggled to make jump shots, but were anchored by Jerome Jordan's 19-point, nine-rebound afternoon.

Tulsa has only made 11 3-pointers through three games, but Uzoh thinks the team can shoot its way out of the slow start.

"We'll keep coming in and getting extra shots up," Uzoh said. "Making shots is a mindset. We have to be ready to shoot and knock them down."

TU's experience also showed against UALR. On a sluggish offensive day, it turned to its defense. No opponent has reached 50 points on the Hurricane.

"Sometimes you have to find another area to help the team win," Uzoh said. "All the guys definitely understand that. When we're not shooting the ball well, we have to rebound, we have to scratch and claw, we have to grind it out."

South Alabama (3-1) is coming off an 82-53 victory over Spring Hill, an NAIA school also located in Mobile.

"They're quick and they really want to dribble-drive you and get to the basket," Wojcik said. "They are real athletic. Ronnie Arrow is a veteran coach, a grinder coach and they're going to be tough-minded. It will be a hard-fought game."