The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Saturday, December 4
St. Louis, Mo.
5:30 p.m.
UAB
at
Saint Louis
Photo by: Ken Shepherd
UAB Travels to St. Louis for Saturday Matchup Against the Billikens
12/3/2021 1:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM – The UAB men's basketball team will once again hit the road for a matchup at former Conference USA foe Saint Louis (7-1) on Saturday night at the Chaifetz Arena. Tipoff in St. Louis is set for 5:30 p.m. and will be carried live on ESPN+ and Bally Sports Midwest.
UAB (6-2) moved to a perfect 5-0 in Bartow Arena with a comeback win over ETSU on Wednesday. The Blazers' defense notched 10 more steals to their season tally in the win and rank first nationally with 13.4 steals per game and 107 total steals.
The Blazers hold a 17-7 all-time record against the Billikens, winning the past three games in the series. Saturday's game in the "Gateway to the West" will be the first matchup between the former C-USA foes since Feb. 23, 2005, when UAB grinded out a tight 64-62 victory.
UAB LATELY
UAB bounced back from a two-point loss in the Las Vegas Invitational championship game with a 14-point victory over ETSU on Wednesday. Despite trailing by as many as 13 in the first half, the Blazers rallied to post their fifth straight double-digit victory in Bartow Arena to open the season. Forward KJ Buffen put in a career performance in the victory, posting a season-high 20 points and career-high 16 rebounds to lead UAB to the win. Buffen went 10-of-17 (58.8%) from the field in the contest and was joined by Quan Jackson (13) and Jordan Walker (12) in double figures.
SAINT LOUIS LATELY
The Billikens have been red hot since a loss at then-No. 11 Memphis on the road, winning four straight games to close out November. Saint Louis opened its winning streak with an opening-round victory over Mercer in the 2021 Cancun Challenge (first matchup played on campus). The Billikens then defeated Illinois State and SFA in Mexico to win the tournament title. Saint Louis pushed its winning streak to four games on Tuesday with an 86-82 overtime road victory at Mountain West foe Boise State. The Billikens rank sixth nationally in scoring offense with 88.1 points per game. Three Billikens, highlighted by redshirt freshman guard Gibson Jimerson (17.0 ppg), average double figures so far this season.
PREVIOUS 10 MATCHUPS BETWEEN UAB & SAINT LOUIS
1/29/97_ at Saint Louis_________________ W, 62-45
1/17/98_ at Saint Louis__________________ L, 60-77
3/5/98__ vs. Saint Louis________________ W, 76-74
2/27/99_ Saint Louis___________________ W, 62-57
2/9/00__ at Saint Louis__________________ L, 61-78
3/3/01__ Saint Louis____________________ L, 48-73
2/19/02_ at Saint Louis__________________ L, 47-53
3/14/03_ vs. Saint Louis________________ W, 63-62
1/31/04_ Saint Louis___________________ W, 72-52
2/23/05_ at Saint Louis_________________ W, 64-62
1,500 IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Graduate guard Quan Jackson reached another milestone in his accomplished collegiate basketball career on Wednesday night, surpassing 1,500 career points. Jackson needed just two points to join the 1,500-point club as the graduate guard poured in 13 points to go along with five rebounds, three steals and two blocks. He now has 1,511 points for his career between Georgia Southern and UAB.
AK SHINING BRIGHT AGAINST THE BILLIKENS
Not only will Saturday's matchup mark UAB head coach Andy Kennedy's first game against Saint Louis since returning to his alma mater, but it will also bring up fond memories for the second-year UAB head coach. Kennedy poured in a career-high 41 points against the Billikens in a 98-80 win over Saint Louis on Jan. 13, 1991. His 41 points were then a solo school record before Robert Vaden tied the record with 41 points at UTEP over 17 years later in 2008. Kennedy and Vaden remain the only two Blazers to surpass 40 points in a single game in a Blazer uniform.
PICKING POCKETS
With 23 steals in Nov. 14's win over Rhodes College, the Blazers tied a school record for steals in a single game. UAB tallied 15 of its 23 steals in the first half, helping the Blazers tie their single-game steals record for the first time since 2005. UAB has recorded double-digit steal tallies in seven of its eight games so far this season, posting 10 or more in all but one contest. The Blazers rank first nationally with 13.4 steals per game and first nationally with 107 total steals.
GETTING BUFF
KJ Buffen posted a dominant performance in UAB's win over ETSU, scoring a season-high 20 points to go along with a career-high 16 rebounds. The Ole Miss transfer's 16 rebounds not only marked a career-high, but they also marked the most boards by a Blazer since William "HaHa" Lee pulled down 17 rebounds in a win over Marshall on Jan. 14, 2017. Buffen also played a season-high 32 minutes and shot 10-of-17 (58.8%) from the field.
AK CLOSING IN ON 300
After posting his 11th 20-win season in 2020-21, Andy Kennedy sits just six wins away from posting his 300th career victory as a collegiate head coach. His first opportunity to reach 300 wins would come against UTEP on Dec. 30 in Bartow Arena.
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 beginning Dec. 28. 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 @UABLearfield.
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.
WATCH
Saturday night's game will be broadcasted live on ESPN+. This is a subscription-based service. UAB's game at Chaifetz Arena will also be carried live on Bally Sports Midwest.
UP NEXT
The Blazers will return home to Bartow Arena for a matchup against Millsaps on Sunday, Dec. 12. Next Sunday's matchup against the Majors will tip off at 2 p.m. and will stream live on CUSA.tv.
MEN'S BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
UAB men's basketball single-game tickets start as low as $12 and can be purchased by clicking here or calling the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1.
Discounted group tickets and fan experiences are available for a minimum purchase of 15 tickets to any home basketball game during the 2021-22 season. Groups are encouraged to complete the UAB Basketball Group Ticket Request Form or call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office for more information.
UAB (6-2) moved to a perfect 5-0 in Bartow Arena with a comeback win over ETSU on Wednesday. The Blazers' defense notched 10 more steals to their season tally in the win and rank first nationally with 13.4 steals per game and 107 total steals.
The Blazers hold a 17-7 all-time record against the Billikens, winning the past three games in the series. Saturday's game in the "Gateway to the West" will be the first matchup between the former C-USA foes since Feb. 23, 2005, when UAB grinded out a tight 64-62 victory.
UAB LATELY
UAB bounced back from a two-point loss in the Las Vegas Invitational championship game with a 14-point victory over ETSU on Wednesday. Despite trailing by as many as 13 in the first half, the Blazers rallied to post their fifth straight double-digit victory in Bartow Arena to open the season. Forward KJ Buffen put in a career performance in the victory, posting a season-high 20 points and career-high 16 rebounds to lead UAB to the win. Buffen went 10-of-17 (58.8%) from the field in the contest and was joined by Quan Jackson (13) and Jordan Walker (12) in double figures.
SAINT LOUIS LATELY
The Billikens have been red hot since a loss at then-No. 11 Memphis on the road, winning four straight games to close out November. Saint Louis opened its winning streak with an opening-round victory over Mercer in the 2021 Cancun Challenge (first matchup played on campus). The Billikens then defeated Illinois State and SFA in Mexico to win the tournament title. Saint Louis pushed its winning streak to four games on Tuesday with an 86-82 overtime road victory at Mountain West foe Boise State. The Billikens rank sixth nationally in scoring offense with 88.1 points per game. Three Billikens, highlighted by redshirt freshman guard Gibson Jimerson (17.0 ppg), average double figures so far this season.
PREVIOUS 10 MATCHUPS BETWEEN UAB & SAINT LOUIS
1/29/97_ at Saint Louis_________________ W, 62-45
1/17/98_ at Saint Louis__________________ L, 60-77
3/5/98__ vs. Saint Louis________________ W, 76-74
2/27/99_ Saint Louis___________________ W, 62-57
2/9/00__ at Saint Louis__________________ L, 61-78
3/3/01__ Saint Louis____________________ L, 48-73
2/19/02_ at Saint Louis__________________ L, 47-53
3/14/03_ vs. Saint Louis________________ W, 63-62
1/31/04_ Saint Louis___________________ W, 72-52
2/23/05_ at Saint Louis_________________ W, 64-62
1,500 IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Graduate guard Quan Jackson reached another milestone in his accomplished collegiate basketball career on Wednesday night, surpassing 1,500 career points. Jackson needed just two points to join the 1,500-point club as the graduate guard poured in 13 points to go along with five rebounds, three steals and two blocks. He now has 1,511 points for his career between Georgia Southern and UAB.
AK SHINING BRIGHT AGAINST THE BILLIKENS
Not only will Saturday's matchup mark UAB head coach Andy Kennedy's first game against Saint Louis since returning to his alma mater, but it will also bring up fond memories for the second-year UAB head coach. Kennedy poured in a career-high 41 points against the Billikens in a 98-80 win over Saint Louis on Jan. 13, 1991. His 41 points were then a solo school record before Robert Vaden tied the record with 41 points at UTEP over 17 years later in 2008. Kennedy and Vaden remain the only two Blazers to surpass 40 points in a single game in a Blazer uniform.
PICKING POCKETS
With 23 steals in Nov. 14's win over Rhodes College, the Blazers tied a school record for steals in a single game. UAB tallied 15 of its 23 steals in the first half, helping the Blazers tie their single-game steals record for the first time since 2005. UAB has recorded double-digit steal tallies in seven of its eight games so far this season, posting 10 or more in all but one contest. The Blazers rank first nationally with 13.4 steals per game and first nationally with 107 total steals.
GETTING BUFF
KJ Buffen posted a dominant performance in UAB's win over ETSU, scoring a season-high 20 points to go along with a career-high 16 rebounds. The Ole Miss transfer's 16 rebounds not only marked a career-high, but they also marked the most boards by a Blazer since William "HaHa" Lee pulled down 17 rebounds in a win over Marshall on Jan. 14, 2017. Buffen also played a season-high 32 minutes and shot 10-of-17 (58.8%) from the field.
AK CLOSING IN ON 300
After posting his 11th 20-win season in 2020-21, Andy Kennedy sits just six wins away from posting his 300th career victory as a collegiate head coach. His first opportunity to reach 300 wins would come against UTEP on Dec. 30 in Bartow Arena.
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 beginning Dec. 28. 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 @UABLearfield.
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.
WATCH
Saturday night's game will be broadcasted live on ESPN+. This is a subscription-based service. UAB's game at Chaifetz Arena will also be carried live on Bally Sports Midwest.
UP NEXT
The Blazers will return home to Bartow Arena for a matchup against Millsaps on Sunday, Dec. 12. Next Sunday's matchup against the Majors will tip off at 2 p.m. and will stream live on CUSA.tv.
MEN'S BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
UAB men's basketball single-game tickets start as low as $12 and can be purchased by clicking here or calling the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1.
Discounted group tickets and fan experiences are available for a minimum purchase of 15 tickets to any home basketball game during the 2021-22 season. Groups are encouraged to complete the UAB Basketball Group Ticket Request Form or call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office for more information.
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