The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Saturday, December 23
Bartow Arena
2:00 PM
UAB
vs
Mississippi Valley State
Blazers Close Non-Conference Slate Saturday with Mississippi Valley State
12/22/2017 12:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB men's basketball team puts the finishing touches on its 2017-18 non-conference schedule Saturday at 2 p.m. when the Blazers host Mississippi Valley State at Bartow Arena.
UAB (8-4) enters the match-up having won five of its last six games after downing New Orleans 74-67 on Wednesday. Senior Chris Cokley notched his sixth double-double of the season by scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to lead four Blazers in double figures. Cokley currently ranks second in Conference USA and 18th in the NCAA in double-doubles.
Junior guard Nick Norton poured in 16 points to go along with seven assists and a career-high five steals, while Lewis Sullivan added 14 points, five rebounds and three blocks off the bench against the Privateers.
Cokley continues to pace the UAB offense with 17.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, which ranks him sixth in scoring and second in rebounding in Conference USA. The Savannah, Ga., native is also shooting 86.8 percent from the free throw line to help the Blazers rank seventh in the NCAA with a .792 overall percentage.
Freshman Zack Bryant adds 14.0 points per game and Nate Darling scores 10.2 points per game and shoots 34.0 percent from three-point range. Senior William Lee blocked four shots Wednesday against New Orleans and averages 1.8 per game and needs just 20 more rejections to become the school's all-time leader.
Mississippi Valley State (0-12) suffered a 95-63 setback Wednesday at UNLV and has now lost 13 consecutive games dating back to last season. The Delta Devils, who have played 11 games on the road, were beaten in all 12 games this season by double digits and have lost by an average of 23.9 points per game.
Junior forward Dante Scott leads Mississippi Valley State with 11.8 points per game and a team-best .355 three-point field goal percentage. Junior forward Emmanuel Ejeh pulls down a team-high 6.0 rebounds per game to go along with eight blocked shots.
UAB and Mississippi Valley State will meet on the hardwood for the eighth time in school history and the first since 1994 when the two teams battle on Saturday. The Blazers own a 7-0 lead in the all-time series that dates back to the 1981-82 season. UAB has won all seven meetings with the Delta Devils by at least 13 points and has won by an average of 20.3 points per game. In the most recent match-up, UAB turned in a 75-62 victory during the 1994-95 season.
UAB is 52-0 all-time against schools currently in the SWAC after posting a 90-58 victory over Alabama A&M last Saturday in the BHM JAM at Legacy Arena. Blazer head coach Robert Ehsan is 4-0 against the league with two wins over Alabama A&M and single victories against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Southern.
All single game tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased online or by calling the UAB Ticket Office at 205-975-8221. Lower level tickets can be purchased for $20 and upper level seating is on sale for $15. Special group pricing is also available for groups of 20 or more to enjoy a great game day experience at Bartow Arena.
For more information on UAB men's basketball, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_MBB), Instagram (@UAB_MBB) and Snapchat (@UAB_MBB).
UAB (8-4) enters the match-up having won five of its last six games after downing New Orleans 74-67 on Wednesday. Senior Chris Cokley notched his sixth double-double of the season by scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to lead four Blazers in double figures. Cokley currently ranks second in Conference USA and 18th in the NCAA in double-doubles.
Junior guard Nick Norton poured in 16 points to go along with seven assists and a career-high five steals, while Lewis Sullivan added 14 points, five rebounds and three blocks off the bench against the Privateers.
Cokley continues to pace the UAB offense with 17.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, which ranks him sixth in scoring and second in rebounding in Conference USA. The Savannah, Ga., native is also shooting 86.8 percent from the free throw line to help the Blazers rank seventh in the NCAA with a .792 overall percentage.
Freshman Zack Bryant adds 14.0 points per game and Nate Darling scores 10.2 points per game and shoots 34.0 percent from three-point range. Senior William Lee blocked four shots Wednesday against New Orleans and averages 1.8 per game and needs just 20 more rejections to become the school's all-time leader.
Mississippi Valley State (0-12) suffered a 95-63 setback Wednesday at UNLV and has now lost 13 consecutive games dating back to last season. The Delta Devils, who have played 11 games on the road, were beaten in all 12 games this season by double digits and have lost by an average of 23.9 points per game.
Junior forward Dante Scott leads Mississippi Valley State with 11.8 points per game and a team-best .355 three-point field goal percentage. Junior forward Emmanuel Ejeh pulls down a team-high 6.0 rebounds per game to go along with eight blocked shots.
UAB and Mississippi Valley State will meet on the hardwood for the eighth time in school history and the first since 1994 when the two teams battle on Saturday. The Blazers own a 7-0 lead in the all-time series that dates back to the 1981-82 season. UAB has won all seven meetings with the Delta Devils by at least 13 points and has won by an average of 20.3 points per game. In the most recent match-up, UAB turned in a 75-62 victory during the 1994-95 season.
UAB is 52-0 all-time against schools currently in the SWAC after posting a 90-58 victory over Alabama A&M last Saturday in the BHM JAM at Legacy Arena. Blazer head coach Robert Ehsan is 4-0 against the league with two wins over Alabama A&M and single victories against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Southern.
All single game tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased online or by calling the UAB Ticket Office at 205-975-8221. Lower level tickets can be purchased for $20 and upper level seating is on sale for $15. Special group pricing is also available for groups of 20 or more to enjoy a great game day experience at Bartow Arena.
For more information on UAB men's basketball, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_MBB), Instagram (@UAB_MBB) and Snapchat (@UAB_MBB).
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
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