Blazers Host UTEP Thursday on 90s Retro Game Night

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB men's basketball team makes its return to Bartow Arena Thursday at 7 p.m. when the Blazers host UTEP on 90s Retro Game Night.

Fans are encouraged to participate in the 90s theme by wearing neon, starter jackets, jerseys, track suits, bleached denim, big hair, etc. Arrive early and stop by the concourse to take part in pregame activities hosted by Good Games UAB.

UAB (13-7, 4-3) suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss at Marshall on Saturday, but still enters play against UTEP having won seven of its last ten games. Senior Chris Cokley scored a career-high 28 points to go along with 14 rebounds against the Thundering Herd for his ninth double-double of the season. The Savannah, Ga., native ranks second in Conference USA and 22nd in the NCAA in double-doubles.

Overall, Cokley leads UAB in scoring (18.3 ppg), rebounding (9.5 rpg) and field goal percentage (.586) and ranks sixth, first and fourth in Conference USA, respectively. Additionally, Cokley stands 29th in the NCAA in rebounding, 20th in offensive rebounds per game and 34th in field goal percentage.

Freshman Zack Bryant is second on UAB with 13.5 points per game and Nate Darling adds 10.7 points per game after pouring in a career-high 21 points against Marshall. Senior William Lee paces the Blazers with 2.0 blocks per game and is two rejections shy of becoming the school's all-time leader with 267.

UTEP (7-12, 2-5) has lost four of its last five games after falling 65-61 at UTSA on Saturday. The Miners currently sit in 12th place in the league standings and have lost all four of their road games this season.

North Texas transfer Keith Frazier leads UTEP with 13.4 points, 5.7 rebounds per game and has made a team-high 35 three-pointers. Senior guard Omega Harris is second on the team with 11.9 points per game and forward Matt Willms also scores in double figures with 10.5 points per game.

UAB and UTEP will meet on the hardwood for the 19th time in school history when the two teams battle on Thursday. The series is tied 9-9 after UTEP posted a 63-59 victory last season at the Haskins Center. The four-point win for the Miners continued a streak of nine consecutive games between UAB and UTEP that have been decided by single digits. In fact, the last nine games between the two schools have been decided by an average of 4.0 points per game. In the most recent match-up at Bartow Arena in 2016, the Blazers defeated UTEP 87-80 to improve to 6-2 at home all-time against the Miners.

All single game tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased online or by calling the UAB Ticket Office at 205-975-8221. Lower level tickets can be purchased for $20 and upper level seating is on sale for $15. Special group pricing is also available for groups of 20 or more, and the Pick-Six mini plan is a flexible option that allows fans to purchase all six of the remaining home games for $60.

For more information on UAB men's basketball, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_MBB), Instagram (@UAB_MBB) and Snapchat (@UAB_MBB).

Blazers Host UTEP Thursday on 90s Retro Game Night

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Players Mentioned

Zack Bryant

Chris Cokley

Nate Darling

William Lee

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics