The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Host Memphis In C-USA Showdown
1/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 21, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB men's basketball team returns to Bartow Arena Saturday to face Conference USA nemesis Memphis in a nationally televised contest. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. CT. The game will air live on ESPN2. Dave O'Brien and Jason Williams have the call.
UAB is 7-1 at home on the season, but has not beaten Memphis since February of 2002. That win over the Tigers was in Bartow Arena.
"Memphis is a very good basketball team," UAB head coach Mike Anderson said. "They have played one of the tougher schedules in the nation and that has prepared them well for conference play."
Memphis (10-8, 3-1 Conference USA) is one of just two Conference USA teams Mike Anderson has yet to beat as a head coach. In his two-plus seasons in charge of the Blazer program, Anderson is 0-2 against Louisville and has yet to beat Memphis in three tries. The Tigers won, 73-66, in the Pyramid in Memphis last year behind 24 from Sean Banks.
Banks will not be a factor this year. The sophomore forward was declared academically ineligible for the spring semester and will not play. Since his departure from the active roster, however, Memphis is 1-0. Darius Washington and Duane Erwin each scored 20 points to lead the Tigers to a 73-67 win at South Florida on Wednesday night.
"They have had some adversity," Anderson admitted. "But you learn and grow from adversity. This is a rivalry game and two schools that share a history. I expect nothing less than a battle in this game."
Junior Rodney Carney leads the Tigers with 16.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Darius Washington is the only other Tiger currently averaging double-figures with a 14.0 points-per-game clip.
UAB (13-5, 3-2 C-USA) looks to rebound from a disheartening loss at Tulane on Wednesday. Taylor Rochestie's buzzer-beating three-pointer in overtime lifted the Green Wave to a 76-73 home win over the Blazers. UAB allowed Tulane to shoot 54.5-percent from the field and, in turn, shot just 37.3-percent in the loss. Demario Eddins led the Blazers with 18 points. Donell Taylor added 12 and Marques Lewis and Marvett McDonald each scored 11.
Donell Taylor leads UAB in scoring with a 15.7 points-per-game average. Ronell Taylor (12.3 ppg.), Eddins (11.9 ppg.) and McDonald (10.3) also score in double-digits for the Blazers.
In addition to the national television coverage, Saturday's clash with Memphis can be heard on the Blazer Sports Network which airs locally in Birmingham on WYDE, 101.1 FM.
UAB Men's Basketball Game Notes in PDF Format
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