March 18, 2003

Men's Basketball Contact: Aaron Jordan

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- The UAB men's basketball team (19-12, 8-8 C-USA) is prepared to play its first postseason basketball game since 1999 when it takes on the Ragin' Cajuns of Louisiana-Lafayette. Gametime is set for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19.

The Ragin' Cajuns enter Wednesday night's contest with an overall record of 20-9 overall and finished 12-3 in the Sun Belt Conference. UL Lafayette features an up-and-down style of play with four starters averaging double figures and 77.4 ppg as a team. Guard Brad Boyd leads the team with 16.5 ppg, while Michael Southall leads the team with 7.6 rebounds per game. The Ragin' Cajuns enter the game on a two-game losing streak after winning the Sun Belt's West Division. UL Lafayette lost its regular season finale, 69-66, against Western Kentucky. The Ragin' Cajuns followed that by becoming the first No. 1 seed since 1983 not to win a Sun Belt conference tournament game, dropping a 72-68 decision to Denver. The Ragin' Cajuns closed the season with an 8-6 record in road contests.

The Blazers made it to the finals of the Conference USA tournament for the first time in school history before falling to tournament host Louisville, 83-78. UAB, which leads the nation in steals per game, had a dozen swipes on the night and racked up a tournament record 48 steals in the four tournament games. The Blazers are led by junior guard Mo Finley who is averaging 18.3 ppg, while three other players average at least nine points a game. Sidney Ball continues to lead the team in rebounds with 5.3 a game, while Eric Bush leads the team in assists (3.6) and steals (3.1).

The Blazers and Ragin' Cajuns will meet for only the third time in the series' history and the first time since Nov. 28, 1997, when the Blazers defeated UL Lafayette, 75-67. In the teams' only other meeting, the Blazers dropped a 74-72 decision on March 6, 1980. The Ragin' Cajuns were the first team UAB ever played in a postseason game (NIT in 1980). Both games were played in Bartow Arena.

The game can be heard live on 1070 WAPI-AM, with the pregame show beginning at 6:30 p.m. Gary Sanders will handle play-by-play, Matt Coulter will be the color analyst and Jon Gentile will produce the broadcast. The postgame show will follow immediately after the game.

Tickets are still available and can be purchased through the UAB ticket office at 975-UAB1 or through the UAB athletic website at www.uabsports.com