The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Thursday, November 30
Bartow Arena
7:00 PM
UAB
vs
Memphis
Blazers Host Memphis Thursday in Annual Bartow Classic
11/29/2017 9:34:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Celebrating Gene Bartow's life and accomplishments, as well as raising money for cancer research, are prime reasons for Thursday night's ninth annual Bartow Classic between UAB and Memphis at Bartow Arena.
Widely known as the `Father of UAB Athletics,' Bartow established the men's basketball program at UAB in 1978 and went on to coach 18 seasons in Birmingham. He finished his career in 1996 after winning 365 games and leading UAB to nine NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 1981 Sweet 16 and the 1982 Elite Eight.
Overall, Coach Bartow won 647 games in 34 seasons as a college head coach. He was the head coach at six universities and guided at least one team at four of those stops into the NCAA Tournament. In all, he coached 14 NCAA Tournament teams, including a national runner-up team at Memphis State in 1972-73 and a Final Four participant at UCLA in 1975.
UAB recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its decision to rename UAB Arena to Bartow Arena on January 25, 1997.
The Bartow Classic began during the 2009-10 season with Murry Bartow bringing his ETSU team to Bartow Arena for the inaugural game. Thursday's game, which will tip off at 7 p.m. on Stadium, marks the ninth Bartow Classic. In 2012, just four days after Coach Bartow lost his battle with cancer, the Blazers played the second of three Bartow Classic games against Memphis. Other Bartow Classic games were played against Southern Miss, Rutgers and Florida Atlantic.
Thursday's renewal of the Bartow Classic will include a $2 donation from each single game ticket sold to the Coach Gene Bartow Fund for Cancer Research. Tickets for the game are $25 for lower-level reserved seats and $20 for upper-level reserved seats. Tickets can be purchased online at UABSports.com or by calling 205-975-UAB1 (8221).
The UAB faithful can also help raise money for the Gene Bartow Fund. Click here to make a donation to the Gene Bartow Fund. Fans can also mail a check donation to the following address: UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, 210 WTI, 1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294. Please include a note on the check indicating the donation is for the Gene Bartow fund.
UAB (4-3) enters play Thursday following a 90-53 victory over Mississippi College on Sunday. Senior William Lee poured in 18 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots to lead a quintet of Blazers in double figures. Lewis Sullivan added 17 points and seven rebounds and leads UAB with a .606 field goal percentage.
Senior Chris Cokley continues to pace the Blazer offense with 18.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, ranking him fourth in Conference USA in scoring and second in rebounding. The Savannah, Ga., native was also tabbed the C-USA Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 17.5 points and 9.3 rebounds in four games last week.
Freshman Zack Bryant adds 14.9 points per game and junior Jalen Perry scores 10.4 points per game for UAB.
Memphis (3-1) has won three straight games after opening the season with a loss to Alabama on a neutral court. Most recently, the Tigers posted a 76-74 victory at home over Northern Kentucky on Nov. 25.
Junior guard Jeremiah Martin leads Memphis with 16.5 points per game and shoots a team-best 41.2 percent from three-point range. Forward Kyvon Davenport adds 13.5 points per game and pulls down a team-high 6.3 rebounds per game. Senior Jimario Rivers also scores in double figures for Memphis with 12.3 points per game.
For more information on UAB men's basketball, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_MBB), Instagram (@blazerhoops) and Snapchat (@UAB_MBB).
Widely known as the `Father of UAB Athletics,' Bartow established the men's basketball program at UAB in 1978 and went on to coach 18 seasons in Birmingham. He finished his career in 1996 after winning 365 games and leading UAB to nine NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 1981 Sweet 16 and the 1982 Elite Eight.
Overall, Coach Bartow won 647 games in 34 seasons as a college head coach. He was the head coach at six universities and guided at least one team at four of those stops into the NCAA Tournament. In all, he coached 14 NCAA Tournament teams, including a national runner-up team at Memphis State in 1972-73 and a Final Four participant at UCLA in 1975.
UAB recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its decision to rename UAB Arena to Bartow Arena on January 25, 1997.
The Bartow Classic began during the 2009-10 season with Murry Bartow bringing his ETSU team to Bartow Arena for the inaugural game. Thursday's game, which will tip off at 7 p.m. on Stadium, marks the ninth Bartow Classic. In 2012, just four days after Coach Bartow lost his battle with cancer, the Blazers played the second of three Bartow Classic games against Memphis. Other Bartow Classic games were played against Southern Miss, Rutgers and Florida Atlantic.
Thursday's renewal of the Bartow Classic will include a $2 donation from each single game ticket sold to the Coach Gene Bartow Fund for Cancer Research. Tickets for the game are $25 for lower-level reserved seats and $20 for upper-level reserved seats. Tickets can be purchased online at UABSports.com or by calling 205-975-UAB1 (8221).
The UAB faithful can also help raise money for the Gene Bartow Fund. Click here to make a donation to the Gene Bartow Fund. Fans can also mail a check donation to the following address: UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, 210 WTI, 1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294. Please include a note on the check indicating the donation is for the Gene Bartow fund.
UAB (4-3) enters play Thursday following a 90-53 victory over Mississippi College on Sunday. Senior William Lee poured in 18 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots to lead a quintet of Blazers in double figures. Lewis Sullivan added 17 points and seven rebounds and leads UAB with a .606 field goal percentage.
Senior Chris Cokley continues to pace the Blazer offense with 18.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, ranking him fourth in Conference USA in scoring and second in rebounding. The Savannah, Ga., native was also tabbed the C-USA Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 17.5 points and 9.3 rebounds in four games last week.
Freshman Zack Bryant adds 14.9 points per game and junior Jalen Perry scores 10.4 points per game for UAB.
Memphis (3-1) has won three straight games after opening the season with a loss to Alabama on a neutral court. Most recently, the Tigers posted a 76-74 victory at home over Northern Kentucky on Nov. 25.
Junior guard Jeremiah Martin leads Memphis with 16.5 points per game and shoots a team-best 41.2 percent from three-point range. Forward Kyvon Davenport adds 13.5 points per game and pulls down a team-high 6.3 rebounds per game. Senior Jimario Rivers also scores in double figures for Memphis with 12.3 points per game.
For more information on UAB men's basketball, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_MBB), Instagram (@blazerhoops) and Snapchat (@UAB_MBB).
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