Conference USA Basketball Game Preview

UAB Blazers (12-3, 2-0, RPI #41) @ Rice Owls (8-7, 2-0, RPI #209) - Wednesday, January 18th, 2006

UAB Blazers

• The Blazers have won 8 straight games and have not lost since December 14th @ Minnesota
• With Eddins out, senior G Marvett McDonald has been the Blazers most consistent scorer averaging 14.9 ppg hitting 49 3-pointers and scoring in double-digits in 13 of UAB's 15 games
• 6'9" sophomore F Frank Holmes is coming off a 22 point, 7 rebound 2 block game @ Marshall on Saturday
• Senior PG Squeaky Johnson is averaging 6.4 assists and an amazing 3.3 steals/game
• UAB has scored 70 points or higher in 11 of 15 games this season
• Key Wins: vs. Oklahoma State, @ Nebraska, @ UMASS, vs. Old Dominion

Rice Owls

• The Owls are 7-1 at home this season and 1-6 on the road; the one win was Satuday @ Tulane
• 6'6" junior F Morris Almond is averaging 19.3 ppg, 5.5 rebounds and shooting 51.6% from the field this season including 33 points, 10 rebounds and 5 steals @ Tulane on Saturday
• PG Lorenzo Williams is dishing out 6.1 assists/game
• 6'8" sophomore F Patrick Britton is averaging 6.1 rebounds/game including 11.5 rebounds/game in the Owls two Conference USA games
• Key Wins: vs. Utah, vs. Houston