Feb. 27, 2004

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- The UAB men's basketball team will attempt to return to its winning ways when the Blazers play host to Marquette on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Blazers, despite being upset (74-69) last Wednesday night at Tulane, are still very much in the thick of the C-USA race and looking to enhance its already lofty position as a candidate for the NCAA Tournament.

UAB is led by senior guard Mo Finley who has team highs of 12.7 ppg and 44 threes made. Gabe Kennedy averages a team-high 5.7 boards per contest, while also contributing 11.7 ppg. Carldell "Squeaky" Johnson has team-highs of 4.0 assists and 2.1 steals per game.

Marquette enters Saturday's game on a two-game win streak, most recently taking a 70-63 win at USF, Thursday. The Golden Eagles have three players averaging double figures, led by Travis Diener's 18.3 ppg. Steve Novak (12.8) and Scott Merritt (12.0) each also average double digits. Merritt also leads the team with 6.8 rebounds per contest, while Diener is the team's leader in assists, dishing out 6.0 dimes a game.

UAB and Marquette will be meeting for the 19th time in the series' history. The Golden Eagles own a 12-6 advantage; however, the two teams have split the last eight contests. Saturday's game marks the Blazers' first home game against the Golden Eagles since Feb. 14, 2001, when the Blazers took a 72-66 win. In fact, just two of the last seven meetings between the two teams have come in Bartow Arena, with UAB winning both contests.

UAB officials are expecting as many as 75 former Blazers this weekend for the reunion, including members of the inaugural 1979 UAB team. They will be honored with a pregame reception and then recognized during a halftime ceremony in the arena.

Former Blazer head coach and athletic director Gene Bartow will be present this weekend with many of his former players. Saturday's Blazer game with Marquette is also "Gene Bartow Bobblehead Day". The first 1,500 fans in attendance, age 13 and older, will receive a bobblehead doll of the Blazers' former coach and AD.

The game can be heard locally on WYDE 101.1 FM with the pregame show beginning at 1:30 p.m. CST. It can also be followed live through Gametracker on the internet by accessing www.uabsports.com.