The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Test Illinois State Saturday Night
12/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
UAB (4-3) vs. Illinois State (3-5)
7:00 p.m. CST | Normal, Ill. | Redbird Arena
Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio | Game Notes
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- In search of its second straight road victory, the UAB men's basketball team heads north to face Illinois State Saturday at 7 p.m. from Redbird Arena.
Blazer fans can catch all the action live on ESPN3 or the WatchESPN app.
UAB enters the weekend following a 64-57 victory over Georgia State that ran its home winning streak to 12, marking the longest such streak since the Blazers won 15 from 2008-09.
Chris Cokley turned in his third double-double of the season with a career-high 15 rebounds to go along with 10 points. The Savannah, Ga., native is second in Conference USA in double-doubles and rebounds (9.4 rpg). Cokley is also averaging a team-best 14.4 points per game.
Nick Norton poured in a game-high 16 points and tallied six assists to help the Blazers finish with at least 17 helpers for the fourth time this season. Norton, who has only turned the ball over five times this season, stands first in Conference USA and fourth in the nation with a 6.2 assist/turnover ratio.
Sophomore William Lee swatted five shots against the Panthers and ranks second in the league and eighth in the NCAA with 3.1 blocks per game. Overall, UAB is first in the conference and seventh in the country with 6.7 rejections per game.
Illinois State (3-5) has lost three of its last four games after falling at No. 1 Kentucky Monday night. The Redbirds, however, are 3-1 at home with wins over Morehead State (Nov. 16), Houston Baptist (Nov. 21) and Quincy (Nov. 27).
Senior guard DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell stands as the Redbirds' leading scorer with 16.6 points per game, while junior guard Paris Lee adds 10.9 points per game and paces Illinois State with 29 assists.
Illinois State leads UAB 2-1 in the all-time series that dates back to the 1990-91 season. The Redbirds squeaked out a 78-74 win last season in Bartow Arena despite a career-high 27 points and seven 3-pointers from Blazer guard Robert Brown.
The Conference USA Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are set to return to Birmingham for the second consecutive year, marking the third time the Blazers will host the event. The men's tournament, as well as the women's semifinals and championship, will be played at Legacy Arena in downtown Birmingham, while the women's first round and quarterfinal action will take place at UAB's Bartow Arena.
UAB ticket mini plans are now on sale and in high demand. The Holiday 3-Pointer includes games against Hiwassee College (Dec. 22), 2015 NCAA Tournament participant Stephen F. Austin (Dec. 29) and the Blazer's Conference USA home opener against Middle Tennessee (Jan 3). Lower level seats can be purchased for $36 ($60 value), or $24 in the upper level ($45 value). The Conference USA Season Pass is available for $119 in the lower level, (a savings of over $60) and only $79 in the upper level, ($56 off the regular price).
For more information on UAB men's basketball, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_MBB), on Instagram (@blazerhoops) or on Facebook (Facebook.com/UABMensBasketball). For more on all Blazer sports teams follow the official social media accounts of UAB Athletics on Twitter (@UABAthletics), on Facebook (Facebook.com/UAB.Blazers), on Instagram (@uabathletics) or on Snapchat (@uabathletics).
