The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Sunday, March 19
Birmingham, Ala.
2 p.m.
UAB
vs
Morehead State
UAB MBB Faces Morehead State in NIT Second Round
3/18/2023 1:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM - UAB men's basketball (26-9, 14-6 C-USA) will take on Morehead State (22-11, 14-4 OVC) on Sunday afternoon in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT.
WATCH
Sunday's game will stream live on ESPN+ with Dave Neal and Perry Clark on the call.
RADIO
Steve Mitchell will join David Crane on the call on 100.5 ESPN JOX 2.
SERIES HISTORY
UAB leads the all-time series 2-0. The Blazers won the last meeting between the two teams in November of 2021. Jordan Walker finished with 23 points while Quan Jackson added 15 in the win.
NIT HISTORY
The Blazers are returning to the NIT for the first time since the 2015-16 season. UAB's last win in the tournament came in 2010 when the Blazers reached the quarterfinals. Twice UAB has reached the NIT semifinals, winning the third place game each time.
LAST TIME OUT
The Blazers defeated former Conference USA foe Southern Miss to open NIT play, 88-60. KJ Buffen scored 26 points and grabbed 12 boards to lead UAB in both categories.
IN ELITE COMPANY
With the Blazers win over UTSA (2/18), Andy Kennedy became just one of seven active head coaches with 20+ wins in 13 of their first 16 seasons. The six other coaches on the list include John Calipari, Mark Few, Jim Boeheim, Jamie Dixon, Thad Matta and Bob Huggins. Kennedy has led the Blazers to 75 wins over three seasons, the most over a three-year stretch in program history.
THE RETURN
Jordan "Jelly" Walker currently sits in third nationally in points per game at 23.2 and three pointers per game at 4.45. He dropped 38 points in the season opener against Alabama State, the most scored by a UAB player in a season opener ever. Walker then captured Sunshine Slam MVP honors after scoring 31 points to go along with 6 rebounds, five assists and five steals against Georgia. He became the first UAB player to score 30+ points eight times as a Blazer, passing Andy Kennedy. Walker has scored 30 or more points in seven games this season, including a 41-point effort against Charlotte, one point shy of his career high. He is 23 points away from reaching UAB's single season record and he is 68 points away from 2,000 in his collegiate career.
GETTING "BUFF"
KJ Buffen has been one of the Blazers' most consistent players this season. He is scoring 10.9 points per game while grabbing 6.7 rebounds per game. Buffen scored a career-high 25 points with eight rebounds in the Blazers' win over South Carolina, leading the team in both categories. Buffen earned C-USA Player of the Week honors after putting up back-to-back double-doubles against Louisiana Tech (1/26) and Rice (1/28). He finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds in the Blazers' win over Rice for his second-career 20-point double-double. He led UAB with 26 points and 12 rebounds in the Blazers' opening round win over Southern Miss.
NIT SECOND ROUND TICKETS
Tickets for the second round matchup against Morehead State are available here. Students get in free with valid One Card. Fans can also add access to the Green & Gold Room for an additional $25 per seat. The Green & Gold Room opens an hour and a half prior to tipoff. Gates will open one hour prior to tipoff.
Game day parking will be available on site for $10 in lots surrounding Bartow Arena. Parking transactions are cashless with debit and credit cards only. Season parking passes from the 2022-23 UAB men's basketball season will not be valid.
2023-24 SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2023-24 UAB men's basketball season are now available starting as low as $110. Season ticket packages will feature all home games during UAB's inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference and provide the most cost-effective way to attend games at Bartow Arena. Fans may renew season tickets, purchase new season tickets or request more information on season ticket options here. For more information about season ticket pricing, call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB men's basketball team, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
WATCH
Sunday's game will stream live on ESPN+ with Dave Neal and Perry Clark on the call.
RADIO
Steve Mitchell will join David Crane on the call on 100.5 ESPN JOX 2.
SERIES HISTORY
UAB leads the all-time series 2-0. The Blazers won the last meeting between the two teams in November of 2021. Jordan Walker finished with 23 points while Quan Jackson added 15 in the win.
NIT HISTORY
The Blazers are returning to the NIT for the first time since the 2015-16 season. UAB's last win in the tournament came in 2010 when the Blazers reached the quarterfinals. Twice UAB has reached the NIT semifinals, winning the third place game each time.
LAST TIME OUT
The Blazers defeated former Conference USA foe Southern Miss to open NIT play, 88-60. KJ Buffen scored 26 points and grabbed 12 boards to lead UAB in both categories.
IN ELITE COMPANY
With the Blazers win over UTSA (2/18), Andy Kennedy became just one of seven active head coaches with 20+ wins in 13 of their first 16 seasons. The six other coaches on the list include John Calipari, Mark Few, Jim Boeheim, Jamie Dixon, Thad Matta and Bob Huggins. Kennedy has led the Blazers to 75 wins over three seasons, the most over a three-year stretch in program history.
THE RETURN
Jordan "Jelly" Walker currently sits in third nationally in points per game at 23.2 and three pointers per game at 4.45. He dropped 38 points in the season opener against Alabama State, the most scored by a UAB player in a season opener ever. Walker then captured Sunshine Slam MVP honors after scoring 31 points to go along with 6 rebounds, five assists and five steals against Georgia. He became the first UAB player to score 30+ points eight times as a Blazer, passing Andy Kennedy. Walker has scored 30 or more points in seven games this season, including a 41-point effort against Charlotte, one point shy of his career high. He is 23 points away from reaching UAB's single season record and he is 68 points away from 2,000 in his collegiate career.
GETTING "BUFF"
KJ Buffen has been one of the Blazers' most consistent players this season. He is scoring 10.9 points per game while grabbing 6.7 rebounds per game. Buffen scored a career-high 25 points with eight rebounds in the Blazers' win over South Carolina, leading the team in both categories. Buffen earned C-USA Player of the Week honors after putting up back-to-back double-doubles against Louisiana Tech (1/26) and Rice (1/28). He finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds in the Blazers' win over Rice for his second-career 20-point double-double. He led UAB with 26 points and 12 rebounds in the Blazers' opening round win over Southern Miss.
NIT SECOND ROUND TICKETS
Tickets for the second round matchup against Morehead State are available here. Students get in free with valid One Card. Fans can also add access to the Green & Gold Room for an additional $25 per seat. The Green & Gold Room opens an hour and a half prior to tipoff. Gates will open one hour prior to tipoff.
Game day parking will be available on site for $10 in lots surrounding Bartow Arena. Parking transactions are cashless with debit and credit cards only. Season parking passes from the 2022-23 UAB men's basketball season will not be valid.
2023-24 SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2023-24 UAB men's basketball season are now available starting as low as $110. Season ticket packages will feature all home games during UAB's inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference and provide the most cost-effective way to attend games at Bartow Arena. Fans may renew season tickets, purchase new season tickets or request more information on season ticket options here. For more information about season ticket pricing, call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB men's basketball team, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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