Who’s Playing
SMU Mustangs @ UAB Blazers
Current Records: SMU 20-10, UAB 19-11
How To Watch
- When: Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 3 p.m. ET
- Where: Bartow Arena — Birmingham, Alabama
- Follow: CBS Sports App
- Online Streaming: Catch select College Basketball matches on Fubo (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.)
What to Know
SMU has enjoyed a two-game homestand but will soon have to dust off their road jerseys. They and the UAB Blazers will face off in an American Athletic battle at 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday at Bartow Arena. Both teams come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
It may have taken overtime to finish the job, but SMU ultimately got the result they hoped for on Wednesday. They came out on top in a nail-biter against the Pirates and snuck past 80-77. The success was a return to things as normal for SMU, who in their previous outing suffered a shocking 77-73 upset defeat to UTSA.
SMU’s win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Keon Ambrose-Hylton, who scored eight points along with six rebounds and two blocks. Ambrose-Hylton didn’t help SMU’s cause all that much against UTSA on Saturday but the same can’t be said for this match.
Meanwhile, UAB scored the most points they’ve had all season to find success on Thursday. They claimed a resounding 100-72 victory over the Owls on the road. The win was just what UAB needed coming off of a 106-87 defeat in their prior contest.
Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead UAB to victory, but perhaps none more so than Yaxel Lendeborg, who dropped a double-double on 19 points and 14 rebounds. Lendeborg didn’t help UAB’s cause all that much against Memphis on Sunday but the same can’t be said for this contest. The team also got some help courtesy of Eric Gaines, who dropped a double-double on 17 points and ten assists.
The Mustangs’ win bumped their record up to 20-10. As for the Blazers, their victory bumped their record up to 19-11.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: SMU have been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 40.2 rebounds per game. However, it’s not like UAB struggles in that department as they’ve been averaging 38 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it’ll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
SMU skirted past UAB 72-69 in their previous meeting back in February. The rematch might be a little tougher for SMU since the squad won’t have the home-court advantage this time around. We’ll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
Series History
SMU won the only game these two teams have played in the last 0 years.
- Feb 04, 2024 – SMU 72 vs. UAB 69
