The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Men's Basketball To Host Houston In Conference USA Home Opener
1/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 9, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- The UAB men's basketball team will open its Conference USA home slate when the Blazers play host to the Houston Cougars on Saturday, January 10, at 7:30 p.m. in Bartow Arena.
UAB is coming off a 71-68 victory at East Carolina in the Conference USA opener for both teams. The Blazers are led by senior forward Gabe Kennedy, who leads the team with 13.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and a .584 FG percentage. Ronell Taylor (12.2 ppg) and Mo Finley (11.1 ppg) also average double figures. Sophomore Carldell Johnson leads the team with 3.0 assists per contest, while Donell Taylor leads the team with 1.9 steals a game.
Houston opened the Conference USA season with a home loss to nationally-ranked Marquette, 65-52, on Wednesday. The Cougars are led by junior Andre Owens who is the only Cougar to average double-figure scoring with 19.4 ppg. Senior Anwar Ferguson leads the team with 7.9 rebounds, while also scoring 7.8 ppg and swatting a team-high 54 shots (4.9/game). Freshman Lanny Smith leads the squad with 3.2 assists per game.
The Blazers (8-4, 1-0) and Cougars (6-5, 0-1) will be meeting for just the 15th time in school history. The Blazers own an 11-3 advantage in the all-time series, including two victories last season. All three of Houston's wins in the series have come in the last six contests.
The game will also be "25th Anniversary" Puzzle night. The first 1,000 fans through the door ages 12 and younger will receive a commemorative 25th Anniversary Puzzle.
The game can be heard locally on WYDE 101.1 FM with the pregame show beginning at 7 p.m. CST. It can also be followed live through Gametracker on the internet by accessing www.uabsports.com.
