The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Sunday, January 31
Bartow Arena
2:00 P.M.
UAB
vs
Middle Tennessee
UAB Men’s Basketball Hosts Middle Tennessee on Sunday
1/30/2021 12:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM – Coming off a 70-59 comeback victory over Middle Tennessee on Thursday, the UAB men's basketball team concludes the series against the Blue Raiders on Sunday afternoon at Bartow Arena. Tipoff is at 2 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
UAB LATELY
The Blazers (13-2, 6-1 C-USA) are off to their best start since 2009-10 and have 13 wins in the first 15 games for only the sixth time in program history. Reigning Conference USA Co-Player of the Week Tavin Lovan led UAB with 23 points in their victory over Middle Tennessee on Jan. 28. Trey Jemison recorded his third double-double of the season with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
MT LATELY
Middle Tennessee (3-10, 1-6 C-USA) has dropped five straight and six of its last seven games. The Blue Raiders' leading scorer is Dontrell Shuler (12.6 ppg) and Jo'vontae Millner-Criss is the team's leading rebounder (5.9 rpg). In the last game on Jan. 28, Shuler scored 16 points.and Miller-Criss had a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds.
UAB AND MT HISTORY
The UAB and Middle Tennessee rivalry dates back to 1986 when the teams squared off in the championship game of the UAB Classic at the BJCC. Eddie Collins scored 27 points and James Ponder 25 to lead the Blazers to a 93-91 overtime victory in the inaugural matchup. Twelve years later, the teams would meet on a neutral court at the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic in Bayamón. UAB convincingly won that matchup 85-60. UAB and MT would play in two home-and-home series before the Blue Raiders joined Conference USA during the 2013-14 season. The most notable victory was on March 14, 2015 when the Blazers defeated the Blue Raiders to win the Conference USA Championship,
COMMON OPPONENTS
UAB and Middle Tennessee have six common opponents this season: Charlotte, Chattanooga, East Tennessee State, LA Tech, Old Dominion and Southern Miss.
BEST C-USA STARTS
UAB is off to its second best start since the formation of Conference USA in 1995-96. In addition to this season's squad being 6-1, the 2003-04, 2005-06, 2009-10 and 2014-15 teams also started out the league slate with six wins in the first seven contests. The 2015-16 team started off 7-0. All five Blazers squads played in the postseason.
13 of 15
For the sixth time in the 43 year history of the program, the Blazers have 13 wins in the first 15 games. The last time was in 2009-10. UAB did it four times under Coach Bartow: 1983-84, 1985-86, 1991-92, 1993-94. All five of those Blazers squads played in the postseason.
LOVAN NAMED Co-C-USA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
After leading UAB to a pair of victories over Rice last weekend, Tavin Lovan was named Conference USA Co-Player of the Week on Jan. 25. Lovan scored a career-high 32 points and grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds in the Blazers' 86-74 win on Jan. 23. He was 13-of-22 shooting, 6-of-7 from the foul line and added five assists. In the 78-68 win on Jan. 22, Lovan scored 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting. In the Rice series, he scored 46 points, shot 62.1% from the field (18-of-29) and made 10-of-12 free throws.
D-ING UP
In addition to being fourth in the nation in scoring defense (58.5), the Blazers are third in turnover margin (+7.3), seventh in fewest turnovers (9.9) and 13th in scoring margin (+16.5).
UP NEXT
The Blazers remain at home to host UTEP on Feb. 5 and Feb. 6. Tipoff times will be 6:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.
RADIO
Blazer men's basketball games are set to air on 100.5 ESPN JOX 2 with David Crane and Murry Bartow on the call.
In addition, Crane will host Blazer Sportsline every Tuesday during Conference USA play. The show takes place live from Iron City Grill in downtown Birmingham and features men's basketball head coach Andy Kennedy and women's basketball head coach Randy Norton.
The nine-episode show, airs from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Blazer Sportsline can be heard on 100.5 ESPN JOX 2 and fans will be encouraged to tweet questions to @BlazersLIMGC.
Fans may also follow the Blazers this season by downloading the free TuneIn Radio app, online through Blazers All-Access at UABSports.com, or on the UAB Gameday mobile app.
STREAMING
Sunday's game will be streamed through ESPN+. This is also a subscription-based service. Click here to register a new account.
MEN'S BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
In compliance with CDC and state and local public health guidance, UAB adjusted the seating manifest to adhere to social distancing at Bartow Arena for the 2020-21 season. UAB reallocated season ticket holders who had completed their purchase of season tickets through October 19 and placed season ticket holders based on Blazer Boosters Priority Points and the price type of tickets purchased. As a reminder, original season ticket locations prior to the social distancing reallocation will be utilized for 2021-22 renewals or if capacity restrictions change during the 2020-21 season.
Due to social distancing guidelines, men's basketball single game tickets and walk up sales are not be available to the public for the 2020-21 season.
Fans interested in season tickets are encouraged to fill out the season ticket request form or contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1. A member of the UAB Athletics Sales and Service team will be in touch if capacity restrictions are lifted or when 2021-22 season tickets become available.
TICKET TRANSFER
Season ticket holders that cannot make it to the game are encouraged to transfer their game tickets. Click here to learn more on how to transfer your tickets to a friend.
UAB LATELY
The Blazers (13-2, 6-1 C-USA) are off to their best start since 2009-10 and have 13 wins in the first 15 games for only the sixth time in program history. Reigning Conference USA Co-Player of the Week Tavin Lovan led UAB with 23 points in their victory over Middle Tennessee on Jan. 28. Trey Jemison recorded his third double-double of the season with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
MT LATELY
Middle Tennessee (3-10, 1-6 C-USA) has dropped five straight and six of its last seven games. The Blue Raiders' leading scorer is Dontrell Shuler (12.6 ppg) and Jo'vontae Millner-Criss is the team's leading rebounder (5.9 rpg). In the last game on Jan. 28, Shuler scored 16 points.and Miller-Criss had a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds.
UAB AND MT HISTORY
The UAB and Middle Tennessee rivalry dates back to 1986 when the teams squared off in the championship game of the UAB Classic at the BJCC. Eddie Collins scored 27 points and James Ponder 25 to lead the Blazers to a 93-91 overtime victory in the inaugural matchup. Twelve years later, the teams would meet on a neutral court at the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic in Bayamón. UAB convincingly won that matchup 85-60. UAB and MT would play in two home-and-home series before the Blue Raiders joined Conference USA during the 2013-14 season. The most notable victory was on March 14, 2015 when the Blazers defeated the Blue Raiders to win the Conference USA Championship,
COMMON OPPONENTS
UAB and Middle Tennessee have six common opponents this season: Charlotte, Chattanooga, East Tennessee State, LA Tech, Old Dominion and Southern Miss.
BEST C-USA STARTS
UAB is off to its second best start since the formation of Conference USA in 1995-96. In addition to this season's squad being 6-1, the 2003-04, 2005-06, 2009-10 and 2014-15 teams also started out the league slate with six wins in the first seven contests. The 2015-16 team started off 7-0. All five Blazers squads played in the postseason.
13 of 15
For the sixth time in the 43 year history of the program, the Blazers have 13 wins in the first 15 games. The last time was in 2009-10. UAB did it four times under Coach Bartow: 1983-84, 1985-86, 1991-92, 1993-94. All five of those Blazers squads played in the postseason.
LOVAN NAMED Co-C-USA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
After leading UAB to a pair of victories over Rice last weekend, Tavin Lovan was named Conference USA Co-Player of the Week on Jan. 25. Lovan scored a career-high 32 points and grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds in the Blazers' 86-74 win on Jan. 23. He was 13-of-22 shooting, 6-of-7 from the foul line and added five assists. In the 78-68 win on Jan. 22, Lovan scored 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting. In the Rice series, he scored 46 points, shot 62.1% from the field (18-of-29) and made 10-of-12 free throws.
D-ING UP
In addition to being fourth in the nation in scoring defense (58.5), the Blazers are third in turnover margin (+7.3), seventh in fewest turnovers (9.9) and 13th in scoring margin (+16.5).
UP NEXT
The Blazers remain at home to host UTEP on Feb. 5 and Feb. 6. Tipoff times will be 6:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.
RADIO
Blazer men's basketball games are set to air on 100.5 ESPN JOX 2 with David Crane and Murry Bartow on the call.
In addition, Crane will host Blazer Sportsline every Tuesday during Conference USA play. The show takes place live from Iron City Grill in downtown Birmingham and features men's basketball head coach Andy Kennedy and women's basketball head coach Randy Norton.
The nine-episode show, airs from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Blazer Sportsline can be heard on 100.5 ESPN JOX 2 and fans will be encouraged to tweet questions to @BlazersLIMGC.
Fans may also follow the Blazers this season by downloading the free TuneIn Radio app, online through Blazers All-Access at UABSports.com, or on the UAB Gameday mobile app.
STREAMING
Sunday's game will be streamed through ESPN+. This is also a subscription-based service. Click here to register a new account.
MEN'S BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
In compliance with CDC and state and local public health guidance, UAB adjusted the seating manifest to adhere to social distancing at Bartow Arena for the 2020-21 season. UAB reallocated season ticket holders who had completed their purchase of season tickets through October 19 and placed season ticket holders based on Blazer Boosters Priority Points and the price type of tickets purchased. As a reminder, original season ticket locations prior to the social distancing reallocation will be utilized for 2021-22 renewals or if capacity restrictions change during the 2020-21 season.
Due to social distancing guidelines, men's basketball single game tickets and walk up sales are not be available to the public for the 2020-21 season.
Fans interested in season tickets are encouraged to fill out the season ticket request form or contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1. A member of the UAB Athletics Sales and Service team will be in touch if capacity restrictions are lifted or when 2021-22 season tickets become available.
TICKET TRANSFER
Season ticket holders that cannot make it to the game are encouraged to transfer their game tickets. Click here to learn more on how to transfer your tickets to a friend.
Players Mentioned
Center
/ Men's Basketball
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