The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Nicholls
11/5/2026 4:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A new era inside a familiar home gets underway Friday night as UAB men's basketball welcomes Nicholls to the newly renovated Bartow Arena for its 2026-27 home opener. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT with the game streaming live on ESPN+.
UAB (0-1, American) vs. Nicholls (1-0, Southland)
Friday, November 6 | 6:30 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Birmingham, Ala. | Bartow Arena
TV: Will Kollmeyer (PxP), Mo Finley (Analyst)
Radio: 100.5 FM JOX2 with David Crane (PxP) and Steve Mitchell (Analyst)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
The first 1,000 will receive commemorative Bartow Arena shirts upon entry to the game.
UAB (0-1) looks to bounce back from Monday's season-opening 99-78 loss to McNeese in the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Nicholls (1-0) enters Birmingham after opening its season with a dominant 110-56 victory over North American (NAIA).
First Look Inside the New Bartow Arena
Friday's home opener represents a milestone for UAB Athletics as Bartow Arena welcomes fans back following a $15.4 million renovation project.
The improvements were designed to modernize the facility and elevate the gameday experience for student-athletes, students and fans. Among the major upgrades are:
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A new entrance lobby featuring approximately 7,400 square feet of additional space.
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Expanded courtside seating and improved seating accommodations for Gang Green.
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Replacement of the lower-bowl retractable seating.
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Renovated concourses featuring updated lighting, paint, finishes and graphics.
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Upgraded restrooms with new fixtures and finishes.
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New hospitality amenities, including an enhanced club area.
The project also included improvements to the overall exterior appearance of the facility. Friday marks the first opportunity for Blazer fans to experience the renovated arena during a men's basketball game.
UAB enters Friday's contest looking to respond after falling to McNeese, 99-78, in its season opener at the Field of 68 Invite.
The Blazers started quickly in Rock Hill, building an 11-4 advantage behind a pair of three-pointers from Justyn Fernandez. However, McNeese responded with a 12-0 run and eventually built a 44-35 halftime advantage.
UAB had five players finish in double figures, led by newcomer Elijah Duval, who scored 15 points and dished out five assists. Deuce Jones added 12 points, while Fernandez contributed 11. Salim London and T.J. Caldwell each finished with 10 points off the bench.
The Blazers were particularly effective at the free-throw line, converting 26 of 30 attempts. However, 14 turnovers and McNeese's 55.1% shooting from the field proved difficult to overcome. The Cowboys also connected on 12 three-pointers.
SCOUTING NICHOLLS
Nicholls comes to Birmingham with momentum after opening the season with a 110-56 victory over North American on Monday. Five Nicholls players scored double digits in the win.
The Colonels, led by head coach Darion Brown, have a roster featuring several transfers and experienced collegiate players. Senior guard Doyel Cockrill III is among the team's notable newcomers after previously averaging 11.8 points per game at Chicago State.
Senior guard Christian Winborne also returns to the program after averaging 7.9 points per game last season. The 6-foot-3 guard provides experience in the backcourt, while senior Sheridan Sharp adds another veteran presence.
Nicholls has also added considerable size to its frontcourt, including 6-foot-11 forward Arop Arop, who previously played at Memphis, and 6-foot-10 forward Junior Sileu, who transferred from Western Michigan.
The Colonels finished 14-19 last season and was picked to finish 10th in the Southland Conference Preseason Poll.
NOTES TO KNOW
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Andy Kennedy is 4-2 in home openers as UAB's head coach. Additionally, Kennedy is 2-0 vs. Nicholls in his head coaching career with both wins coming at Ole Miss.
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UAB is 2-0 vs. the Colonels all-time. The first meeting between the two schools came on December 21, 1992 and the most recent clash came on December 17, 2002, with both games taking place in the city of Birmingham. In the win in 2002, Mo Finley had 26 points and made six 3-pointers. UAB won both games by an average of 20 points.
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Two players in Friday's game hail from Cameroon; Nicholls' Junior Sileu (Douala) and UAB's Matt Mbole (Yaounde) are both from the central African country.
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Jeremy Elyzee has played against the Colonels once in his career during his time at Southeastern Louisiana. In last spring's game, Elyzee had nine points, four rebounds, three assists, and three blocks in a game won by Nicholls, 68-60. Elyzee also had a career-high 13 rebounds against Nicholls on February 15, 2025.
BARTOW GAMEDAY
Check out what's new at Bartow Arena this season by clicking HERE.
2026-27 MEN'S BASKETBALL SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Season tickets for the 2026-27 UAB Men's Basketball season are on sale now. Season ticket packages include all regular season home games at the newly renovated Bartow Arena and provide the best value. For more information, click here or contact the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-8221. Fans can also request to receive additional information by clicking here.
SINGLE GAME TICKETS AND GROUP PACKAGES AVAILABLE
Single game tickets for the 2026-27 UAB Men's Basketball season are available now. Individual and corporate groups can also plan a memorable experience during any of UAB's home events at Bartow Arena this season by filling out the UAB Group Ticket Request Form. Fan experience packages and discounted group tickets are available for a minimum purchase of 15 tickets.
COMPETITIVE EXCELLENCE FUND
The Competitive Excellence Fund has become integral in our department mission to Win Championships, Graduate with Honors, and Impact the community. Through your generosity, our coaches will have the greatest opportunity to recruit and retain talented student athletes worthy of wearing a UAB uniform. Click here or connect with the Blazer Boosters team on how you can continue to fuel success.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
To keep with UAB Men's Basketball this season, be sure to follow @UAB_MBB on X and Instagram.
