Men's Basketball Faces UAB Saturday
1/24/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 24, 2014
TULSA, Okla. - The Tulsa men's basketball continues its homestand Saturday when it plays host to UAB for a 3 p.m. tipoff at the Donald W. Reynolds Center.
The Golden Hurricane (9-10, 4-1 C-USA) has won five of its last six games, and seven in a row at home. The Blazers (12-6, 1-3 C-USA) are 3-3 in their last six games and have won eight of their last 12 contests overall.
The game will be broadcast on the Hurricane Radio Network, KRMG AM 740/102.3 FM in Tulsa, and network affiliates. Tickets for the games are available by visiting the TU Athletics Ticket Office in the Reynolds Center, by calling 918-631-GoTU (4688), or online at www.TulsaHurricane.com.
Sophomore guard James Woodard leads Tulsa in scoring and rebounding, averaging 14.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Sophomore forward Rashad Smith scores 12.4 points with 5.4 rebounds per game. Shaquille Harrison averages 10.3 points and 3.6 assists per contest. Senior guard Pat Swilling Jr. averages 8.6 points per contest. Sophomore forward D'Andre Wright averages 7.7 points, sophomore guard Rashad Ray scores 6.1 points with 2.3 assists and Lew Evans scores 5.8 points per outing.
The Golden Hurricane averages 73.5 points and 34.7 rebounds per game, shooting .436 from the field, including .351 from 3-point territory. Hurricane opponents average 72.6 points and 36.9 rebounds, while shooting .429 from the field.
In C-USA games: Woodard averages 15.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 2.2 apg, Harrison averages 12.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.0 apg, and Ray averages 11.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.2 apg, a .762 field goal pct., and a .957 free throw pct. Wright averages 9.4 ppg and 5.0 rpg, Tim Peete averages 5.8 ppg and 4.2 rpg, and Lew Evans averages 7.6 ppg and 7.2 rpg, while Pat Swilling Jr. averages 9.2 ppg.
UAB is led by Chad Frazier, who averages 17.5 points and 4.5 assists per game. C.J. Washington scores 13.9 points and adds 7.4 rebounds, while Rod Rucker leads the team with 7.6 rebounds per game, and scores 10.8 points per outing. Six players average at least eight points, and four players average at least 6.7 rebounds per contest. The Blazers average 76.2 points and 46.8 rebounds per game, shooting .423 from the field and .306 from long distance. UAB opponents average 71.4 points and 35.7 rebounds per game, shooting .407 from the field.
This is the 16th meeting between Tulsa and UAB. UAB leads the series, 8-7. The Blazers have won the last two meetings, including a 70-63 win in Tulsa last season. UAB also won 68-64 in Birmingham in 2012. The Golden Hurricane won in Tulsa in 2011, 78-62. The Hurricane won three straight in the series from 2008-09, including two victories in the C-USA Tournament. Prior to that run, the Blazers won three in a row between 2006-08. UAB also won at home in 2010. Tulsa won the very first meeting between the schools in 1990, 92-86, at the All College Tournament in Oklahoma City, and TU has a 4-2 record all-time against the Blazers in Tulsa.
Follow Tulsa Athletics on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TulsaHurricane and Facebook at www.facebook.com/TulsaHurricane. Follow Tulsa Men's Basketball on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TUMBasketball and Facebook at www.facebook.com/TulsaMBasketball.
