MURFREESBORO, Tenn. Tavin Lovan had 23 points as UAB beat Middle Tennessee 70-59 on Thursday night.
Tyreek Scott-Grayson had 15 points for UAB (13-2, 6-1 Conference USA). Jalen Benjamin added 13 points. Trey Jemison had 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Michael Ertel was held to only two points. The Blazers’ leading scorer heading into the matchup at 13 points per game, he failed to make a shot from 3-point range (0 of 6).
Dontrell Shuler had 16 points for the Blue Raiders (3-10, 1-6), who have now lost five consecutive games. He also had seven turnovers but only three assists. Jordan Davis added 12 points. Jo’Vontae Millner-Criss had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
WKU, Middle Tenn. meet in conference play
January 21, 2021 GMT
Murphy Athletic Center, Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Saturday, 5 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Western Kentucky pays visit to Middle Tennessee in a CUSA matchup. Western Kentucky snuck past Marshall by two points on Sunday. Middle Tennessee lost 64-59 to Southern Miss on Saturday.
VETERAN PRESENCE: Senior leadership has been on display for both teams this year. Jordan Davis, Jo’Vontae Millner-Criss, DeAndre Dishman, Donovan Sims and Jalen Jordan have collectively accounted for 65 percent of Middle Tennessee’s scoring this season. For Western Kentucky, Charles Bassey, Taveion Hollingsworth, Josh Anderson, Dayvion McKnight and Carson Williams have combined to account for 72 percent of all Western Kentucky scoring, including 91 percent of the team’s points over its last five games.
Middle Tennessee (3-5, 1-1) vs. Southern Miss (5-6, 1-3) Reed Green Coliseum, Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Friday, 8 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Two guards will be on display as Jordan Davis.