The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Accepts Invitation To NIT
3/16/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 16, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- UAB has accepted an invitation to the 2003 National Invitation Tournament and will play host to Louisiana-Lafayette Wednesday, March 19. Tip-off in Bartow Arena is 7:00 p.m. CT.
UAB (19-12) is coming off an impressive performance at the Conference USA Tournament in Louisville, Ky. The Blazers reached the championship game of the tournament, falling to host Louisville 83-78 Saturday. UAB won three games in three days to reach the final, including a quarterfinal round victory over No. 8-ranked and top-seeded Marquette.
"This continues to be an exciting time for UAB basketball with the invitation to the NIT," said Blazer head coach Mike Anderson. "The fact that we are hosting a game makes it even better. It gives us a chance to showcase our city, university and, of course, our basketball team.
"Louisiana-Lafayette (20-8) is a very good team," said Anderson. "They won 20 games, won at Charlotte by 21 points and beat Mississippi State earlier in the year. They play up-tempo basketball and it should be an exciting game to watch."
The Blazers will be making their eighth appearance in the NIT and have reached the Final Four on two occasions, both under coach Gene Bartow. In 1989, UAB advanced to the semifinals in New York where they lost to St. John's (76-65) before coming back to defeat Michigan State (78-76) in the third place game.
UAB was one of three Conference USA schools invited to play in the 40-team NIT field. DePaul and Saint Louis also will be participating.
The Blazers also reached the NIT semifinals in the 1993 tournament, falling to Georgetown in the semifinals (45-41). Again, UAB rebounded to win the third place contest, defeating Providence by a 55-52 score. UAB has an all-time record in the NIT of 9-7.
The Blazers' last NIT appearance was in 1998 when UAB won an opening round game at Missouri (93-86) before falling at Minnesota in the second round, 79-66.
UAB has participated in 10 NCAA Tournaments, making this the Blazers' 18th overall postseason appearance.
Tickets to the Blazers' opening round NIT game will go on sale Monday at 8:00 a.m. at the UAB Athletics Ticket Office. The ticket office will remain open until 7:00 p.m. both Monday and Tuesday and all day Wednesday. Reserved seat tickets will be priced at $14.00 and general admission tickets will be $10.00. UAB students will be admitted free with a valid university I.D.
UAB season ticket holders have until Noon on Tuesday to exercise their seat priority and may do so in person or by calling 975-UAB1. Non season-ticket holders may purchase tickets in person or by calling SouthTix at (205) 933-1280.
