The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Finishes Non-Conference Play With Valdosta State
1/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 4, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB men's basketball team continues its three-game home stand with the final non-conference contest of the 2005-06 season Thursday night. The Blazers of UAB welcome the Blazers of Valdosta State for a 7:30 p.m. CT contest in Bartow Arena. It will be UAB's first-ever contest against a team with the same nickname.
"They are a Division II team, but one that is playing awfully well and scoring a lot of points," UAB head coach Mike Anderson said. "That means they're an up-tempo team. I'm sure it's a game they're looking forward to and our guys are as well."
UAB's Blazers are 9-3 overall and have won five-straight contests. Anderson's club is coming off a hard-fought, 68-62, home win over VCU Monday night. Squeaky Johnson tied his career-high with 16 points that included four free-throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
The VCU win proved costly, however, as four-year starting forward Demario Eddins was lost for the season with a torn Achilles' tendon in his right leg. The Valdosta State contest will give UAB just one game to adjust to the loss of Eddins before entering Conference USA play next Wednesday night against Tulsa.
Marvett McDonald leads UAB with an average of 14.8 points per game. Wen Mukubu is the only other Blazer in double-digits (10.6 ppg.) besides Eddins.
Valdosta State, an NCAA Division II institution, is 9-2 on the year and has won eight straight heading into Thursday night's game. The Blazers' wins have all come over Division II, III or NAIA foes, however. VSU also plays up-tempo basketball, averaging 92.0 points per game and hitting over eight three-pointers per contest. Mike Crain leads three players in double-figures for Valdosta with an 18.7 points per game average. Jon Rogers (16.3 ppg.) and J.T. Thomas (12.3 ppg.) also score 10 or more per contest.
"They play a lot of people, have balanced scoring and they have fun, it looks like (from watching videotape)," Anderson said. "They're scoring a lot of points. That means they're getting up and down the floor and getting easy shots. They've got some guys who can really make some plays and get to the free throw line."
Valdosta defeated Florida Gulf Coast College, 97-78, Tuesday night at home. Crain went for 30 points while Rogers, Thomas and Jeremy Bloomfield each scored 14 for VSU. The Blazers hit 14 of 23 three-point shots in the win.
UAB and Valdosta State have never met on the hardwood. In fact, this will be UAB's first-ever match up against another team nicknamed "Blazers." Only UAB, Valdosta State, Belhaven (Miss.), Hood College (Md.), Elms College (Mass.) and the College of St. Benedict (Minn.) have four-year athletic programs with the moniker.
The game can be heard on the ISP/Blazer Sports Network found locally in Birmingham on WYDE, 101.1 FM.
UAB Men's Basketball Game Notes in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
