The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Welcome WKU to Bartow Arena on Gold Rush Thursday
1/11/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
WKU (9-8, 3-1) vs. UAB (9-7, 2-1)
7 p.m. CST | Birmingham, Ala. | Bartow Arena
Watch | Listen | Live Stats | Game Notes
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB men's basketball team returns to Bartow Arena for the first time since Dec. 28 when the Blazers host WKU Thursday at 7 p.m. in the first Conference USA home game of the season.
Fans will be treated to a number of outstanding promotions, beginning with $10 tickets for UAB graduates with online purchases. Click here and use the promotion code ALUMNI to receive your discount. In addition, UAB concessions will offer $1 hot dogs and one lucky UAB student will win a 55'' flat screen television.
The game will be broadcast live on Campus Insiders and on Twitter with Ray Crawford and Jordan Cornette calling the action. In addition, fans can tune in and listen to David Crane, "The Voice of the Blazers," and UAB legend Steve Mitchell on the flagship station for UAB men's basketball, WZRR-FM Talk 99.5 or on the UAB Gameday mobile app.
UAB (9-7, 2-1) turned in a sweep last week in road games at North Texas and Rice, and enters play having won three of its last four games. William Lee scored 19 points and blocked five shots against North Texas to lift the Blazers to a 54-52 victory. On Saturday at Rice, Lee tallied 20 points, including 14 in the second half, to help UAB to an 88-81 win over the Owls.
A native of Plantersville, Ala., Lee leads UAB with 5.9 rebounds per game and stands second with 11.9 points per game. Lee also averages 2.9 blocks per game which leads Conference USA and ranks 12th in the nation.
Junior Chris Cokley registered his first double-double of the season Saturday at Rice and now leads the Blazers with 12.1 points per game to go along with 5.8 rebounds per game. The Savannah, Ga., native also stands 21st in the NCAA with a .601 field goal percentage.
Dirk Williams also scores in double figures for UAB, averaging 10.5 points per game. Williams is one of six Blazers that shoots at least 80.0 percent from the free throw line, helping UAB rank eighth in the NCAA with a .777 free throw percentage. Williams leads UAB by shooting 87.1 percent from the charity stripe.
WKU (9-8, 3-1) saw its five-game winning streak snapped Saturday when the Hilltoppers lost 79-67 at home to Old Dominion. It was the first home loss of the season for WKU after winning six straight to begin the year.
Senior guard Que Johnson leads WKU with 15.1 points per game and is second on the team with 5.0 rebounds per game. Junior forward Justin Johnson paces the Hilltoppers with 8.3 rebounds per game and stands second in scoring with 13.0 points per game.
UAB and WKU will meet on the hardwood for the 34th time in school history when the two teams battle on Thursday. The Blazers own a 21-12 lead in the all-time series that dates back to the 1980-81 season. UAB has beaten WKU in three of the last five meetings despite the Hilltoppers winning two of the three games last season. The Blazers have also defeated WKU in each of the Hilltoppers' last two visits to Bartow Arena. WKU has not won at Bartow Arena since 1995.
For more information on UAB men's basketball, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_MBB), Instagram (@blazerhoops) and Snapchat (@UAB_MBB).
