The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Sunday, December 12
Bartow Arena
2 p.m.
UAB
vs
MILLSAPS
Photo by: Ken Shepherd
UAB Hosts Millsaps to Open Six-Game Home Stand
12/10/2021 4:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM – The UAB men's basketball team returns home on Sunday for a home matchup against Millsaps in Bartow Arena. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. and will stream live on CUSA.tv.
UAB (7-2) notched a 77-72 comeback win at Saint Louis this past Saturday, erasing a seven-point halftime deficit to earn a NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) Quadrant I victory over the Billikens. The Blazers' victory also moved them to 18-7 all-time against Saint Louis in program history.
The Green and Gold are 5-0 in Bartow Arena this season, winning those contests by an average of 27 points per game. UAB is 1-0 all-time against Millsaps, knocking off the Majors 94-59 just over 34 years ago on Dec. 5, 1987.
UAB LATELY
After falling 63-61 to San Francisco in the Las Vegas Invitational title game, the Blazers earned back-to-back wins over teams currently ranked inside the KenPom Top 130 with victories over ETSU (No. 128) and Saint Louis (No. 89). The Blazers rallied from double-digit deficits in both wins, notching their first NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) Quadrant I victory of the season at Saint Louis. Graduate guard Michael Ertel scored 12 of his 16 points in the second half to help lead the Blazers to the key road victory, knocking down a baseline jumper to put the game out of reach with 27 seconds left on the clock.
MILLSAPS LATELY
The Majors, who enter Sunday's 2-7 after opening the year 2-2, will face the Blazers for just the second time in program history. Millsaps earned its first win of the year at home over Belhaven University before defeating Texas Lutheran 59-56 in the Letourneau University Classic held in Longview, Texas. Wing Cameron Williams leads the Majors in both scoring (16.8 ppg) and rebounding (10.1 rpg), scoring a season-high 29 points to go along with 12 rebounds in Millsaps' win over Belhaven. Head coach Michael Prather enteres his second year with the Majors after taking over in Jackson in Summer 2020.
COMMON OPPONENTS -- MILLSAPS
The Blazers and Majors share just one common opponent this season -- Rhodes College. UAB defeated Rhodes 98-61 on Nov. 14, while the Majors will take on the Lynx on Jan. 14 and Feb. 11 in conference play.
PREVIOUS MATCHUP BETWEEN UAB & MILLSAPS
12/5/87__ Millsaps______________________ W, 94-59
NOTHING BUT "NET"
UAB's victory at Saint Louis not only marked the Blazers' first true road victory of the season, but it also served as UAB's first Quadrant I NET win of the 2021-22 season. NET, or the NCAA Evaluation Tool, released its first rankings of the 2021-22 season on Monday, which had the Blazers sitting at a program-best No. 35. The Blazers' previous high in the ranking system came in Andy Kennedy's first season back in Birmingham when UAB reached No. 48 in the NET ratings.
AK'S REVIVAL
Head coach Andy Kennedy often talks about re-establishing the "Bartow Standard" in Birmingham by competing for and winning championships year after year. Last Sunday, he accomplished yet another first in the history of UAB men's basketball, becoming the first head coach to start both his first and second seasons 3-0. His record of 29-9 in his first 38 games as UAB's head coach also marks a program best. A win on Sunday would also make Kennedy the first UAB head coach to start both his first and second seasons with at least an 8-2 record through the first 10 games of each of his first two campaigns.
PICKING POCKETS
With 23 steals in Nov. 14's win over Rhodes College, the Blazers tied a school record for steals in a single game. UAB tallied 15 of its 23 steals in the first half, helping the Blazers tie their single-game steals record for the first time since 2005. UAB has recorded double-digit steal tallies in seven of its nine games so far this season, posting 10 or more in all but two contests. The Blazers rank first nationally with 12.9 steals per game and first nationally with 116 total steals.
EFFICIENCY IS KEY
In 2020-21, the UAB defense led the Blazers to a 22-7 record and a league-best 13 C-USA victories. So far this season, both the offense and defense have fueled UAB's success, ranking second in the nation in turnover margin (8.9) while ranking 42nd nationally with 80.9 points per game on offense. The Blazers also rank seventh nationally with 182 total turnovers forced this season.
SECOND-HALF SURGE
UAB ranks first in Conference USA by outscoring opponents by an average of 10.2 points in the second half of its matchups this season. The Blazers trailed at the half in both of their wins this past week before roaring back to notch wins by at least two possessions in both contests.
RISING IN KENPOM
UAB's current rank of 42nd in the KenPom ratings is the Blazers' best since the 2010-11 season. The next closest team to UAB in Conference USA is Louisiana Tech at 85.
TICKET PROMOTION
To honor UAB's 5-0 record in Bartow Arena this season, 500 $5 tickets will be available for this Sunday's game against Millsaps. Click here to find out more information.
POSTGAME AUTOGRAPH SESSION
Following UAB's game against Millsaps, players from the UAB men's basketball team will sign autographs on the concourse of Bartow Arena.
RADIO
Blazer men's basketball games are set to air on 100.5 ESPN JOX 2 with David Crane and Murry Bartow on the call.
In addition, Crane will host Blazer Sportsline every Tuesday beginning Dec. 28. The show takes place live from Iron City Grill in downtown Birmingham and features men's basketball head coach Andy Kennedy and women's basketball head coach Randy Norton.
The nine-episode show, airs from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Blazer Sportsline can be heard on 100.5 ESPN JOX 2 and fans will be encouraged to tweet questions to @UABLearfield.
Fans may also follow the Blazers this season by downloading the free TuneIn Radio app, online through Blazers All-Access at UABSports.com, or on the UAB Gameday mobile app.
WATCH
Sunday's game will stream live on CUSA.tv. This is a subscription-based service.
UP NEXT
The Blazers will host Grambling State on Tuesday in Bartow Arena. Tipoff between the Blazers and Tigers is set for 6:30 p.m. and will stream live on ESPN+.
UAB BASKETBALL AT BARTOW ARENA
UAB requires wearing a mask indoors – regardless of vaccine status – unless actively eating or drinking and encourages masks during outdoor events, alongside regular handwashing.
MEN'S BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
UAB men's basketball single-game tickets start as low as $12 and can be purchased by clicking here or calling the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1.
Discounted group tickets and fan experiences are available for a minimum purchase of 15 tickets to any home basketball game during the 2021-22 season. Groups are encouraged to complete the UAB Basketball Group Ticket Request Form or call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office for more information.
UAB (7-2) notched a 77-72 comeback win at Saint Louis this past Saturday, erasing a seven-point halftime deficit to earn a NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) Quadrant I victory over the Billikens. The Blazers' victory also moved them to 18-7 all-time against Saint Louis in program history.
The Green and Gold are 5-0 in Bartow Arena this season, winning those contests by an average of 27 points per game. UAB is 1-0 all-time against Millsaps, knocking off the Majors 94-59 just over 34 years ago on Dec. 5, 1987.
UAB LATELY
After falling 63-61 to San Francisco in the Las Vegas Invitational title game, the Blazers earned back-to-back wins over teams currently ranked inside the KenPom Top 130 with victories over ETSU (No. 128) and Saint Louis (No. 89). The Blazers rallied from double-digit deficits in both wins, notching their first NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) Quadrant I victory of the season at Saint Louis. Graduate guard Michael Ertel scored 12 of his 16 points in the second half to help lead the Blazers to the key road victory, knocking down a baseline jumper to put the game out of reach with 27 seconds left on the clock.
MILLSAPS LATELY
The Majors, who enter Sunday's 2-7 after opening the year 2-2, will face the Blazers for just the second time in program history. Millsaps earned its first win of the year at home over Belhaven University before defeating Texas Lutheran 59-56 in the Letourneau University Classic held in Longview, Texas. Wing Cameron Williams leads the Majors in both scoring (16.8 ppg) and rebounding (10.1 rpg), scoring a season-high 29 points to go along with 12 rebounds in Millsaps' win over Belhaven. Head coach Michael Prather enteres his second year with the Majors after taking over in Jackson in Summer 2020.
COMMON OPPONENTS -- MILLSAPS
The Blazers and Majors share just one common opponent this season -- Rhodes College. UAB defeated Rhodes 98-61 on Nov. 14, while the Majors will take on the Lynx on Jan. 14 and Feb. 11 in conference play.
PREVIOUS MATCHUP BETWEEN UAB & MILLSAPS
12/5/87__ Millsaps______________________ W, 94-59
NOTHING BUT "NET"
UAB's victory at Saint Louis not only marked the Blazers' first true road victory of the season, but it also served as UAB's first Quadrant I NET win of the 2021-22 season. NET, or the NCAA Evaluation Tool, released its first rankings of the 2021-22 season on Monday, which had the Blazers sitting at a program-best No. 35. The Blazers' previous high in the ranking system came in Andy Kennedy's first season back in Birmingham when UAB reached No. 48 in the NET ratings.
AK'S REVIVAL
Head coach Andy Kennedy often talks about re-establishing the "Bartow Standard" in Birmingham by competing for and winning championships year after year. Last Sunday, he accomplished yet another first in the history of UAB men's basketball, becoming the first head coach to start both his first and second seasons 3-0. His record of 29-9 in his first 38 games as UAB's head coach also marks a program best. A win on Sunday would also make Kennedy the first UAB head coach to start both his first and second seasons with at least an 8-2 record through the first 10 games of each of his first two campaigns.
PICKING POCKETS
With 23 steals in Nov. 14's win over Rhodes College, the Blazers tied a school record for steals in a single game. UAB tallied 15 of its 23 steals in the first half, helping the Blazers tie their single-game steals record for the first time since 2005. UAB has recorded double-digit steal tallies in seven of its nine games so far this season, posting 10 or more in all but two contests. The Blazers rank first nationally with 12.9 steals per game and first nationally with 116 total steals.
EFFICIENCY IS KEY
In 2020-21, the UAB defense led the Blazers to a 22-7 record and a league-best 13 C-USA victories. So far this season, both the offense and defense have fueled UAB's success, ranking second in the nation in turnover margin (8.9) while ranking 42nd nationally with 80.9 points per game on offense. The Blazers also rank seventh nationally with 182 total turnovers forced this season.
SECOND-HALF SURGE
UAB ranks first in Conference USA by outscoring opponents by an average of 10.2 points in the second half of its matchups this season. The Blazers trailed at the half in both of their wins this past week before roaring back to notch wins by at least two possessions in both contests.
RISING IN KENPOM
UAB's current rank of 42nd in the KenPom ratings is the Blazers' best since the 2010-11 season. The next closest team to UAB in Conference USA is Louisiana Tech at 85.
TICKET PROMOTION
To honor UAB's 5-0 record in Bartow Arena this season, 500 $5 tickets will be available for this Sunday's game against Millsaps. Click here to find out more information.
POSTGAME AUTOGRAPH SESSION
Following UAB's game against Millsaps, players from the UAB men's basketball team will sign autographs on the concourse of Bartow Arena.
RADIO
Blazer men's basketball games are set to air on 100.5 ESPN JOX 2 with David Crane and Murry Bartow on the call.
In addition, Crane will host Blazer Sportsline every Tuesday beginning Dec. 28. The show takes place live from Iron City Grill in downtown Birmingham and features men's basketball head coach Andy Kennedy and women's basketball head coach Randy Norton.
The nine-episode show, airs from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Blazer Sportsline can be heard on 100.5 ESPN JOX 2 and fans will be encouraged to tweet questions to @UABLearfield.
Fans may also follow the Blazers this season by downloading the free TuneIn Radio app, online through Blazers All-Access at UABSports.com, or on the UAB Gameday mobile app.
WATCH
Sunday's game will stream live on CUSA.tv. This is a subscription-based service.
UP NEXT
The Blazers will host Grambling State on Tuesday in Bartow Arena. Tipoff between the Blazers and Tigers is set for 6:30 p.m. and will stream live on ESPN+.
UAB BASKETBALL AT BARTOW ARENA
UAB requires wearing a mask indoors – regardless of vaccine status – unless actively eating or drinking and encourages masks during outdoor events, alongside regular handwashing.
MEN'S BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
UAB men's basketball single-game tickets start as low as $12 and can be purchased by clicking here or calling the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1.
Discounted group tickets and fan experiences are available for a minimum purchase of 15 tickets to any home basketball game during the 2021-22 season. Groups are encouraged to complete the UAB Basketball Group Ticket Request Form or call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office for more information.
Players Mentioned
Guard
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