Clash at Bartow Arena: UAB Blazers to Host Drake Bulldogs in Men's Basketball Showdown
As the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers gear up to host the Drake Bulldogs at Bartow Arena, fans are buzzing with anticipation for what promises to be an electrifying game of basketball. The UAB Blazers have been showing a strong performance on their home court, and this upcoming match is expected to be no exception.
Looking back at the Blazers' recent games, there's a pattern of robust offense and solid defense that could spell trouble for the Bulldogs. On December 14th against Alabama A&M, UAB put up an impressive 93 points with a field goal percentage rounding off at 50 percent. Their ability to score from both inside and outside the paint was evident as they made 22 two-pointers and shot an outstanding 57 percent from beyond the arc. This kind of shooting versatility will be key against Drake.
Moreover, UAB's ability to capitalize on turnovers is notable; they scored 21 points off turnovers in that game alone. Their fast break execution was also on point with 25 fast break points, showcasing their speed and transition play which could potentially outpace the Bulldogs' defense.
However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for UAB in recent outings. In a tough battle against Arkansas State Red Wolves on December 9th, despite putting up a good fight with a two-point percentage of nearly 58 percent, they fell short by scoring only 68 points compared to Arkansas State's higher output of 87 points. The Blazers will need to tighten their defense if they want to avoid such pitfalls against Drake.
The last home game for UAB was also telling; while they defeated Southern Miss Golden Eagles with an overall scoreline favoring them by three points (82-85), it highlighted some areas needing improvement – particularly their free throw percentage which stood around just under two-thirds successful attempts.
The key player statistics from these past games indicate that if UAB can maintain their high-scoring offense while shoring up defensive efforts – especially from behind the three-point line where opponents have found success – then victory could well be within reach come game day.
Fans should mark their calendars for December 22nd when these two teams face off at Bartow Arena in Birmingham at precisely eight o'clock in the evening local time. For those unable to attend in person, ESPN+ will broadcast this thrilling encounter over the internet ensuring no one misses out on what promises to be another chapter in this season’s exciting college basketball story.