The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Host Arkansas-Pine Bluff Friday in Season Opener
11/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (0-0) vs. UAB (0-0)
7 p.m. CST | Birmingham, Ala. | Bartow Arena
Gameday Central | Live Video | Live Stats | Game Notes
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB men’s basketball team opens the 2016-17 season Friday at 7 p.m. when the Blazers welcome Arkansas-Pine Bluff to Bartow Arena.
The UAB Department of Athletics will offer a special $5 discounted ticket for all active and veteran military men and women in conjunction with Veterans Day. The discount is available on game day with your military ID or by placing an order online with the promo code MILITARY. Fans are also encouraged to wear red, white and blue in support of our military.
Led by first-year head coach Robert Ehsan, UAB enters play having won 25 consecutive games at Bartow Arena which is tied for the fifth-longest home winning streak in the NCAA. UAB hasn’t lost at home since December 18, 2014.
UAB enjoyed its first taste of the season Nov. 3 when the Blazers cruised to a 92-69 victory over Lindenwood University in an exhibition game. Senior Dirk Williams scored 22 points and shot 10-for-11 from the field to lead four Blazers in double figures. A native of Homewood, Ala., Williams was tabbed the 2016 Conference USA Sixth Man of the Year.
William Lee added 11 points, six rebounds and one block against Lindenwood and enters this season as the reigning C-USA Defensive Player of the Year. Lee ranked eighth in the NCAA last season with 2.9 blocks per game and helped UAB finish second in the nation with 6.1 rejections per game.
Chris Cokley also turned in a solid performance in the exhibition game, finishing with 11 points, four rebounds and two steals. The Savannah, Ga., native earned a spot on the All-Conference USA Second Team last season after winning Sixth Man of the Year honors as a freshman.
Nick Norton registered nine assists and four steals against Lindenwood and looks to continue a trend that saw UAB finish third in the NCAA last season with 18.4 assists per game. In addition, Norton stood 18th in the country with a 3.0 assist/turnover ratio.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff finished last season with an 8-25 overall record and a 6-12 mark in the SWAC en route to a ninth place finish in the league standings. The Golden Lions turned in a 99-56 exhibition victory over Champion Christian College earlier this month.
Senior guard Ghiavonni Robinson led Arkansas-Pine Bluff last season with 11.1 points and 2.0 assists per game. Robinson tallied 14 points, four steals and two assists in the exhibition game.
UAB and Arkansas-Pine Bluff have met on the hardwood only once in the history of the two schools, with the Blazers posting an 81-51 victory during the 1997-98 season. Additionally, UAB is 48-0 all-time against schools from the SWAC.
For more information on UAB men’s basketball, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_MBB), Instagram (@blazerhoops) and Snapchat (@UAB_MBB).
