AUBURN, Ala. – When Bruce Pearl first arrived at Auburn, it was important to him that the Tigers go back to playing UAB every year. At the time, he called UAB the best program in the state, which was not a knock to any other program. The Blazers were just that good.
Though Auburn has won the last three meetings between the two schools, they have all been hard-fought, close games, and it should be no different this year when the 8th-ranked Tigers play UAB in Birmingham on Saturday as part of the inaugural Mike Slive Invitational.
"The series with UAB is important," Pearl said. "We've beaten them the last three times by a total of 10 points – it's always coming down to late possessions. UAB plays really hard. They're really physical and very athletic. They're fifth in the nation in offensive rebounding. They've always been a good offensive rebounding team. Our ability to keep them off the boards and deny them second-chance points are going to be important.
Rebounding has been a point of emphasis for this Auburn team after the Tigers were outrebounded, 37-27, in last Saturday's win over Dayton. It was only the third time in nine games that they lost the rebounding edge and they won two of those games, but there's always room to improve.
The game is scheduled to tip off at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday from Legacy Arena in Birmingham. Rod Bramblett and Sonny Smith will have the radio call on 93.9 Tiger FM, online at AuburnTigers.com and on the TuneIn app. The game will also be televised on CBS Sports Network with Dave Ryan and Pete Gillen on the call.
"We're excited about playing in Legacy Arena," Pearl said. "The Mike Slive Invitational is an opportunity to bring attention to our former SEC commissioner, who was also the commissioner of C-USA. Mike loved Birmingham. He made it his home and made the SEC office his home there. He helped create what is the best conference in intercollegiate athletics, men and women – the SEC."
Player to watch: Jared Harper
In two career games against UAB, junior point guard Jared Harper has balled out. Having faced the Blazers in each of the past two seasons, Harper is averaging 21.0 points, 4.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game while shooting 42 percent from the floor. The Georgia native has also buried 57 percent of his 3-point attempts (8-of-14) and 70 percent of his free throws (14-of-20) against UAB.
Inside the series: UAB
The Tigers and Blazers are set to meet for the 21st time in series history Saturday. This is the fourth straight season the two teams have met after not playing from 2000-2014. They met on a regular basis from 1982-1999 except in 1987, 1988 and 1992.
The series is tied, 10-10, but Auburn has taken the last five matchups by a total of 29 points. The Blazers hold a 5-4 advantage in games played at Legacy Arena at the BJCC.
On this date
On Dec. 15, 2016, Auburn scored 117 points – the third-most under Pearl – to beat Coastal Carolina at home. Freshman Danjel Purifoy led the way with 27 points on 9 of 14 shooting, including 5 of 10 from beyond the arc, and he added seven rebounds and three steals.
Purifoy will make his return to the court Saturday against UAB. The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 11.5 points and 4.7 rebounds as a freshman but hasn't played since March 2017.
Turning over the opponent
Auburn scored 32 points off 23 Dayton turnovers last Saturday. It is the fifth time the Tigers have forced at least 20 turnovers this season, including the last three games in which they have forced an average of 24.7 turnovers per game. Auburn ranks fourth nationally in turnovers forced per game (20.7), and it leads the country with a plus-8.1 turnover margin.
50-point first half
Auburn scored 51 points in the first half of its last game against Dayton. It is the most points Dayton has allowed in a half under head coach Anthony Grant and just the second time the Flyers have allowed 50 points in a half under Grant (50, Rhode Island, Jan. 20, 2018). For Auburn, it was the fourth 50-point half this season and the third time the Tigers have scored 50 in the first half.
Greg Ostendorf is a Senior Writer for AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @greg_ostendorf
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