BIRMINGHAM – UAB (15-11, 6-7 C-USA) travels to Murfreesboro to take on Middle Tennessee on Saturday afternoon. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
UAB AND MIDDLE TENNESSEE
The UAB and Middle Tennessee rivalry dated 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.
ABOUT MIDDLE TENNESSEE
Middle Tennessee (6-20, 2-11 C-USA) is coming off an 83-72 loss versus UAB on Wednesday. C.J. Jones leads the Blue Raiders with 16.4 points per game, which is fourth in the league. MT is 4-8 overall and 1-5 in C-USA games at home this season.
LAST TIME AGAINST MIDDLE TENNESSEE
UAB outscored Middle Tennessee 47-34 in the second half en route to an 83-72 victory over Middle Tennessee on Feb. 12, 2020 at Bartow Arena. Tavin Lovan scored a career-high 25 points, making 10 of his 11 field goal attempts and knocked down all five of his foul shots. Will Butler also recorded a career-high with 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting and pulled down seven rebounds. Jalen Benjamin added 21 points, tying a career-high with six 3-pointers and Makhtar Gueye scored 10 along with eight boards for the Blazers (15-11, 6-7 C-USA). Antonio Green scored a game-high 26 points for Middle Tennessee (6-20, 2-11 C-USA).
UAB AND MIDDLE TENNESSEE ALL-TIME
OVERALL: UAB leads 12-9
IN BIRMINGHAM: UAB leads 5-4
IN MURFREESBORO: MT leads 5-3
IN BAYAMÓN, PUERTO RICO: UAB leads 1-0
IN FRISCO: UAB leads 1-0
IN CONFERENCE USA GAMES: MT leads 8-4
IN CONFERENCE USA CHAMPIONSHIP: UAB leads 2-1
C-USA BONUS PLAY
Conference USA men’s basketball will enter the second phase of its conference slate with the release of its Bonus Play schedule Sunday afternoon.
THE HOMETOWN CALL
Listen to David Crane and Murry Bartow on WJQX-FM ESPN 100.5 Jox2 or by using the TuneIn app.
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Single game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by clicking here or by calling the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at 205-975-UAB1.
Group packages are also available for 20 or more and provide your friends or co-workers an opportunity to save money while taking advantage of special fan experiences to any home basketball game. To purchase group tickets or inquire about opportunities for the 2019-20 season, please contact Chris Curtis at (205) 934-3172 or [email protected].
