BIRMINGHAM – UAB returns to Bartow Arena on Thursday night to host WKU. The game will air on Stadium and has a tipoff of 7 p.m.
UAB AND WKU
UAB and WKU began their series on Mar. 13, 1981. The two teams squared off in the First Round of the Mideast Region of the NCAA tournament. The game was played in Tuscaloosa at the Coleman Coliseum. Glenn Marcus scored 22 and Oliver Robinson 16 as the Blazers dominated the Hilltoppers 93-68.
In total, the teams have met 40 times – in five cities and six different venues – with the Blazers holding a 24-16 advantage, 15-4 in Birmingham. The teams have played every season since 2014-15 when WKU joined C-USA after spending the previous 33 seasons in the Sun Belt.
The Blazers and Hilltoppers were Sun Belt rivals until 1994-95 season when the Blazers left for Conference USA. UAB held a 16-7 advantage in Sun Belt games, including conference tournament victories in 1985, 1986 and 1987.
The teams played five nonconference matchups between 1995 and 2006.
Since joining C-USA in 2014-15, the series is deadlocked at 6-6, including last season’s games in which the road team came away victorious. UAB and WKU have met three times in the C-USA Championship with WKU holding a 2-1 edge.
ABOUT WKU
WKU (9-5, 2-0 C-USA) is coming off a pair of wins against North Texas (93-84) and Rice (68-61) in the opening weekend of conference play. Three active Hilltoppers average double-figure scoring in Carson Williams (13.4 ppg), Camron Justice (12.8) and TJ Hollingsworth (12.7 ppg). In WKU’s last four games, Williams is coming off being named C-USA Co-Player of the Week after averaging 18 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists. WKU is 1-2 in true road games this season.
Scratched from the lineup will be All-American sophomore center Charles Bassey (15.3 ppg/9.2 rpg/2.3 bpg). In WKU’s victory over Arkansas on Dec. 7, Bassey suffered a tibial plateau fracture in his left leg. He had season-ending surgery on Dec. 10.
UAB AND WKU ALL-TIME
OVERALL: UAB leads 24-16
IN BIRMINGHAM: UAB leads 14-4
IN BOWLING GREEN: WKU leads 10-6
NEUTRAL SITES: UAB leads 4-2
IN TUSCALOOSA: UAB leads 1-0
IN HAMPTON: UAB leads 1-0
IN FRISCO: WKU leads 1-0
IN C-USA GAMES: Series tied 6-6
IN SUN BELT GAMES: UAB leads 16-7
LAST TIME AGAINST WKU
Despite leading for more than 30 minutes, the UAB men’s basketball team fell to WKU 73-67 on Feb. 28, 2019. WKU (17-12, 10-6C-USA) took its second lead of the game with 5:42 left in the contest and UAB could not recover as the Hilltoppers avenged a loss suffered to the Blazers (17-12, 9-7 C-USA) just 12 days ago in Bowling Green.
THE HOMETOWN CALL
You can listen to David Crane and Murry Bartow on WJQX-FM ESPN 100.5 Jox2 or by using the TuneIn app.
GAME TO AIR ON STADIUM
Thursday’s game will be broadcast on Stadium. Chris Hassel will handle the play-by-play and Tim Scarborough will be the analyst. Click here to find out how you can watch.
$12 LOWER LEVEL TICKETS
Thursday’s WKU game along with Saturday’s Marshall contest are your last chance to purchase $12 lower level tickets. You can purchase tickets here.
C-USA PICK 4 MINI PLAN
Along with single game and group tickets which are already on sale, fans now have the option to purchase a four-game mini plan which offers the flexibility of attending any four Conference USA games at Bartow Arena for only $40 in the upper level. The C-USA Pick 4 Mini Plan can be purchased by clicking here or by calling the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at 205-975-UAB1
