Golden Hurricane Takes on UAB

GAME #15: Tulsa (6-8, 0-0 AAC) vs. UAB (7-7, 0-1 AAC)
Date/Time:	Saturday • January 4, 2025 • 1:00 p.m. (CT)
Site:	Bartow Arena (8,500) • Tulsa, Okla.
Coaches:	Tulsa – Eric Konkol (Wisconsin-Eau Claire, '00), 3rd Season UAB – Andy Kennedy (UAB '91), 5th Season
TV:	ESPNU \| Joel Godett (PxP) and Mark Adams (Analyst)
Radio:	Big Country 99.5 FM / Varsity Sports App (Bruce Howard & JR Rollo)
Live Stats:	Live Stats
Series:	18th Meeting \| UAB Leads Series 10-7
Twitter:	@TUMBasketball \| @TulsaHurricane
Instagram:	TulsaMBasketball
Notes:	Tulsa Notes \| UAB Notes \| The American Notes

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –– The University of Tulsa men's basketball team hits the road for the first time in American Athletic Conference play as Tulsa takes on UAB in Barstow Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. (CT) and will air on ESPNU with Joel Godet and Mark Adams on the call. Fans can also catch the contest on Big Country 99.5 FM and the Varsity Network app. Bruce Howard will bring fans the action alongside analyst JR Rollo.

Tulsa (6-8, 0-1 The American) and UAB (7-7, 0-1 The American) are both coming in off loses in their respective conference openers. For the Golden Hurricane, it was a 70-64 loss in the Reynolds Center to Rice, snapping TU's 17-game winning streak against the Owls. Wednesday was also the first Tulsa game this season where the team leading at halftime did not go on to win the game.

The Blazers were on the road in their conference opener, facing North Texas. UAB held a 17-point lead at the half, but saw it ripped away by the Mean Green as UNT sank a buzzer-beating 3-pointer for the win. It was the second largest lead UAB has had in a loss this season after failing to hold onto a 25-point halftime advantage against Arkansas State.

Saturday is the 18^th meeting between the Golden Hurricane and Blazers. UAB has won four straight in the series and lead 10-7 all-time. The three previous games between the two schools, including last season's matchup, have all been played in the Donald W. Reynolds Center and each game finished with UAB winning 70-63. Tulsa is seeking its first win in Birmingham, losing the previous seven attempts.

Heading into Saturday's matchup, Tulsa has a few trends the Hurricane would like to see continue. After starting the season 2-of-14 on 3-pointers, junior guard Jesaiah McWright has converted six of his past seven over the previous three games. Sophomore forward Matt Reed has also found his stroke from long range, connecting on 7-of-11 in the three previous games after beginning the season 3-of-19. Freshman forward Ian Smikle has grown as the season has gone on, becoming for aggressive on the offensive end and on the glass. Smikle has averaged 9.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in the past three games and averages 5.5 points and 5.5 rebounds for the season.

Keaston Willis and Dwon Odom lead Tulsa in scoring, averaging 13.8 and 13.3 points, respectively. Willis has knocked down a conference-leading 41 3-pointers, while Odom shoots 53.5 percent from the floor, a team-best. Tyshawn Archie is averaging 12.3 points per game and now has 25 made triples.

UAB has had an up-and-down start to it season picked to win the conference in the preseason poll with nine first place votes and 141 overall points, UAB sits at .500 as the Blazers welcome Tulsa for their home opener. However, UAB is packed with talent, chief among them is Yaxel Lendeborg, the reigning The American Defensive Player of the Year and Preseason Player of the Year. Lendeborg leads the team in scoring (16.3), rebounding (9.9), total assists (48), steals (21) and blocks (19).

Returning starters Alejandro Vasquez (10.4) and Efrem "Butta" Johnson (10.3) also score in double figures. joining those three are Christian Coleman (11.9) and Ja'Borri McGhee (10.6). UAB likes to score and has the capacity to do so quickly. The Blazers are 21st in the NCAA in scoring offense (85.2) and are second nationally in fastbreak points (20.14) making them one of the deadlier teams in the country. They lead the conference in both categories.

Following Saturday's contest, the Golden Hurricane continues its road trip with a game in the Lone Star State. Tulsa will face UTSA on Tuesday evening in San Antonio. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and will air on ESPN+.

Golden Hurricane Takes on UAB

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Players Mentioned

Tyshawn Archie

Jesaiah McWright

Dwon Odom

Matt Reed

Ian Smikle

Keaston Willis