The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Wednesday, March 2
Hattiesburg, Miss.
7 p.m.
UAB
at
Southern Miss
Photo by: Ken Shepherd
UAB Looks to Seal Double Bye in C-USA Tournament With Wednesday Night Matchup at Southern Miss
3/1/2022 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM – After recording its first road weekend sweep in conference play this season with wins at UTSA and UTEP, the UAB men's basketball team will look to lock up the No. 2 seed in Conference USA's West Division and a double bye in the C-USA Tournament in Wednesday night's matchup at Southern Miss.
Wednesday night's tipoff in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is set for 7 p.m. and will stream live on ESPN+.
UAB exploded in the second half of the Blazers' and Golden Eagles' first matchup this season in Birmingham, breaking a 37-37 halftime tie with 47 points in the final 20 minutes to coast to an 84-63 victory in Bartow Arena. The Blazers have won three straight games against the Golden Eagles and hold a 35-19 edge over Southern Miss in the all-time series history. UAB's last road trip to Hattiesburg resulted in a 76-72 victory for the Blazers on Feb. 23, 2019.
UAB LATELY
UAB (22-7, 12-4 C-USA) rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit for the second time this season to post a huge 69-66 road victory at UTEP on Saturday. Center Trey Jemison dominated the paint in both Blazer victories over the weekend, tying a season-high in rebounding in both wins with a game-high 12 boards. Jemison scored the first four points for the Blazers in the second half, setting the tone for the final 20 minutes. UAB outrebounded the Miners 42-25 on Saturday, moving to a perfect 17-0 this season when the Blazers outrebound their opponent. Jordan Walker paced the Green and Gold with 22 points and seven assists, sinking what would be the game-winning bucket with 52 seconds remaining. Walker followed his go-ahead floater with two made free throws with 14 seconds remaining. A defensive stand then helped UAB seal its sixth road victory of the season. Despite only one player reaching double figures in scoring, seven UAB players knocked down a 3-pointer in the victory, including Rongie Gordon sinking his first triple of the 2021-22 season.
SOUTHERN MISS LATELY
Southern Miss (6-23, 1-15 C-USA) saw its four-point halftime lead Saturday at Rice slip away in the final 20 minutes, dropping its second game out of the past five matchups in overtime. USM's Isaih Moore sent Saturday's game to overtime with a game-tying dunk with 10 seconds remaining, but the Golden Eagles could not get ahead in overtime as Rice held the lead for the final 4:34 of Saturday's contest. Junior forward Tyler Stevenson continues to lead the Golden Eagles in points per game (14.3) and rebounds per game (7.7). Moore has also exceled for the Golden Eagles this season, shooting 54.5% from the field while averaging 12.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. The Golden Eagles rank last in Conference USA in total free throw attempts (427), free throws made (291), scoring margin (-10.5), scoring offense (64.3), 3-point field-goal defense (37.3%), turnover margin (-2.4) and overall team winning percentage (.207).
COMMON OPPONENTS -- SOUTHERN MISS
The Blazers and Golden Eagles shared no common nonconference opponents.
PREVIOUS 10 MATCHUPS IN THE SERIES
2/11/16__ at Southern Miss________________ W, 80-77
1/28/17__ Southern Miss__________________ W, 87-43
1/11/18__ Southern Miss__________________ W, 86-75
2/17/18__ at Southern Miss________________ W, 87-69
1/12/19__ at Southern Miss_________________ L, 68-73
2/23/19__ at Southern Miss________________ W, 76-72
1/23/20__ Southern Miss___________________ L, 77-84
1/8/21___ Southern Miss__________________ W, 72-60
1/9/21___ Southern Miss__________________ W, 62-58
2/10/22__ Southern Miss__________________ W, 84-63
WELCOME TO THE 1K CLUB
With a dunk in the first half of a 24-point win over Rice on Feb. 17, KJ Buffen became the sixth current Blazer to join the 1,000-point club. Buffen, Jordan Walker and Justin Brown have all three surpassed 1,000 points in their college careers with the Blazers this season. Buffen (1,047), Walker (1,105) and Brown (1,033) are joined by fellow Blazers Mike Ertel (2,013), Quan Jackson (1,748) and Tavin Lovan (1,229) to have scored more than 1,000 points in their college basketball careers. UAB is the only known program in Division I with six 1,000-point scorers. Notre Dame and Florida each both have five 1,000-point scorers on their rosters.
STACKING UP NICELY IN THE LEAGUE
UAB ranked first among Conference USA programs in a number of different team statistical categories entering C-USA play on Dec. 30, including scoring offense (82.2 points per game), scoring margin (21.2), steals per game (12.4) and turnover margin (8.6). Entering Wednesday's slate of league games, UAB ranks first in the league in field-goal percentage defense (40.9%), scoring margin (15.0), scoring offense (79.7), steals per game (10.0), total steals (291), turnover margin (5.6), turnovers forced per game (16.62) and fewest turnovers committed per game (11.0).
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
Wednesday's game will be streamed live on ESPN+. This is a subscription-based service.
UP NEXT
The Blazers will conclude their regular season schedule Saturday when UAB welcomes Louisiana Tech for Senior Day in Bartow Arena. Saturday's tipoff is set for 2 p.m. and will be carried live on Stadium. UAB earned an 83-76 victory at Louisiana Tech on Jan. 22, snapping LA Tech's 18-game home winning streak.
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.
2022-23 men's basketball season tickets are also now on sale and start for as low as $110 in Blaze's Corner. The public season-ticket price is set at $275, while employee and alumni season tickets are set at $245 per seat.
Wednesday night's tipoff in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is set for 7 p.m. and will stream live on ESPN+.
UAB exploded in the second half of the Blazers' and Golden Eagles' first matchup this season in Birmingham, breaking a 37-37 halftime tie with 47 points in the final 20 minutes to coast to an 84-63 victory in Bartow Arena. The Blazers have won three straight games against the Golden Eagles and hold a 35-19 edge over Southern Miss in the all-time series history. UAB's last road trip to Hattiesburg resulted in a 76-72 victory for the Blazers on Feb. 23, 2019.
UAB LATELY
UAB (22-7, 12-4 C-USA) rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit for the second time this season to post a huge 69-66 road victory at UTEP on Saturday. Center Trey Jemison dominated the paint in both Blazer victories over the weekend, tying a season-high in rebounding in both wins with a game-high 12 boards. Jemison scored the first four points for the Blazers in the second half, setting the tone for the final 20 minutes. UAB outrebounded the Miners 42-25 on Saturday, moving to a perfect 17-0 this season when the Blazers outrebound their opponent. Jordan Walker paced the Green and Gold with 22 points and seven assists, sinking what would be the game-winning bucket with 52 seconds remaining. Walker followed his go-ahead floater with two made free throws with 14 seconds remaining. A defensive stand then helped UAB seal its sixth road victory of the season. Despite only one player reaching double figures in scoring, seven UAB players knocked down a 3-pointer in the victory, including Rongie Gordon sinking his first triple of the 2021-22 season.
SOUTHERN MISS LATELY
Southern Miss (6-23, 1-15 C-USA) saw its four-point halftime lead Saturday at Rice slip away in the final 20 minutes, dropping its second game out of the past five matchups in overtime. USM's Isaih Moore sent Saturday's game to overtime with a game-tying dunk with 10 seconds remaining, but the Golden Eagles could not get ahead in overtime as Rice held the lead for the final 4:34 of Saturday's contest. Junior forward Tyler Stevenson continues to lead the Golden Eagles in points per game (14.3) and rebounds per game (7.7). Moore has also exceled for the Golden Eagles this season, shooting 54.5% from the field while averaging 12.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. The Golden Eagles rank last in Conference USA in total free throw attempts (427), free throws made (291), scoring margin (-10.5), scoring offense (64.3), 3-point field-goal defense (37.3%), turnover margin (-2.4) and overall team winning percentage (.207).
COMMON OPPONENTS -- SOUTHERN MISS
The Blazers and Golden Eagles shared no common nonconference opponents.
PREVIOUS 10 MATCHUPS IN THE SERIES
2/11/16__ at Southern Miss________________ W, 80-77
1/28/17__ Southern Miss__________________ W, 87-43
1/11/18__ Southern Miss__________________ W, 86-75
2/17/18__ at Southern Miss________________ W, 87-69
1/12/19__ at Southern Miss_________________ L, 68-73
2/23/19__ at Southern Miss________________ W, 76-72
1/23/20__ Southern Miss___________________ L, 77-84
1/8/21___ Southern Miss__________________ W, 72-60
1/9/21___ Southern Miss__________________ W, 62-58
2/10/22__ Southern Miss__________________ W, 84-63
WELCOME TO THE 1K CLUB
With a dunk in the first half of a 24-point win over Rice on Feb. 17, KJ Buffen became the sixth current Blazer to join the 1,000-point club. Buffen, Jordan Walker and Justin Brown have all three surpassed 1,000 points in their college careers with the Blazers this season. Buffen (1,047), Walker (1,105) and Brown (1,033) are joined by fellow Blazers Mike Ertel (2,013), Quan Jackson (1,748) and Tavin Lovan (1,229) to have scored more than 1,000 points in their college basketball careers. UAB is the only known program in Division I with six 1,000-point scorers. Notre Dame and Florida each both have five 1,000-point scorers on their rosters.
STACKING UP NICELY IN THE LEAGUE
UAB ranked first among Conference USA programs in a number of different team statistical categories entering C-USA play on Dec. 30, including scoring offense (82.2 points per game), scoring margin (21.2), steals per game (12.4) and turnover margin (8.6). Entering Wednesday's slate of league games, UAB ranks first in the league in field-goal percentage defense (40.9%), scoring margin (15.0), scoring offense (79.7), steals per game (10.0), total steals (291), turnover margin (5.6), turnovers forced per game (16.62) and fewest turnovers committed per game (11.0).
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
Wednesday's game will be streamed live on ESPN+. This is a subscription-based service.
UP NEXT
The Blazers will conclude their regular season schedule Saturday when UAB welcomes Louisiana Tech for Senior Day in Bartow Arena. Saturday's tipoff is set for 2 p.m. and will be carried live on Stadium. UAB earned an 83-76 victory at Louisiana Tech on Jan. 22, snapping LA Tech's 18-game home winning streak.
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.
2022-23 men's basketball season tickets are also now on sale and start for as low as $110 in Blaze's Corner. The public season-ticket price is set at $275, while employee and alumni season tickets are set at $245 per seat.
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Center
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
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