GAME THREAD: UAB vs WVU

West Virginia is set to host UAB Saturday evening as both teams look to continue hot starts to their seasons.

UAB comes in at 7-1, having just beaten South Alabama, 76-68. UAB’s Jordan Walker is averaging 25.7 points per game which ranks first in the country.

WVU comes in at 7-2, having just beaten Navy, 85-64. West Virginia has scored at least 80 points in seven of their first nine games of the year.

WVU Starting Five:
Kedrian Johnson
Erik Stevenson
Emmitt Matthews
Tre Mitchell
Jimmy Bell

UAB Starting Five:
Ledarrius Brewer
Eric Gaines
Jordan Walker
KJ Buffen
Trey Jemison

FINAL: 81-70

Second Half:

3:58 – WVU 77, UAB 64
Jimmy Bell is whistled for a foul which brings us to the under four timeout. The Mountaineers have been able to hold off Walker and company, sustaining a 10 point lead for more than three minutes.

7:33 – WVU 67, UAB 58
Mountaineers have connected on their last two possessions, with Emmitt Matthews hitting a three-pointer, and then Tre Mitchell hitting a jumper at the elbow. Jordan Walker also hit a three-pointer for UAB and has 19 points.

9:30 – UAB’s Eric Gaines fouls out with eight points on the evening.

10:41 – Timeout UAB
WVU leads 58-51 after Joe Toussaint blocks Jordan Walker’s runner and then Kedrian Johnson leaps to keep the ball in bounds. On the offensive end Tre Mitchell hits a three-pointer and forces Andy Kennedy to take a timeout.

11:53 – WVU 53, UAB 49
This has been a very physical game and both teams have had a lot of whistles go against them. Walker is heating up for UAB and the Mountaineers are finding success getting to the free throw line.

14:32 – UAB is on a 14-2 run and Jordan Walker has eight points so far in the second half, including two three-pointers. The Blazers lead 47-45.

16:07 – WVU leads UAB 45-40. Mountaineers and Blazers with another sloppy and physical start to a half.

16:22- Wague picks up his fourth foul and in comes James Okonkwo.

17:38 – Jimmy Bell of WVU gets called for his third personal foul. Both Bell and Wague have three fouls as Wague checks back into the game.

HALFTIME: WVU 40, UAB 31

First Half:

:26 – WVU’s Joe Toussaint makes a contested layup and then gets a steal and draws a foul and then makes two free throws before then getting another steal before the half.

2:32 – Mohamed Wague for WVU picks up his third personal foul of the evening as WVU leads 32-23.

4:19- Timeout UAB
WVU is on a 7-0 run and leads 28-22. UAB has eight turnovers so far this half.

7:05 – WVU’s Emmitt Matthews is on fire from beyond the arc right now. Matthews hit back-to-back three-pointers and is 3/3 from the field, with all three shots coming from beyond the arc.

8:14 – Jordan Walker with his first points of the night puts UAB up 20-18.

11:11 – WVU 13, UAB 9
After getting injured within the first 30 second of the game, Emmitt Matthews checks back in for the Mountaineers. There were also technical fouls assessed to WVU’s Mohamed Wague and UAB’s KJ Buffen. WVU is shooting 43% from the field, while UAB is shooting 31% from the field.

15:48 – UAB 7, WVU 6
Things have been very physical here in the opening minutes. The Blazers have been able to get out in transition and WVU has been unable to recover on defense.

20:00 – UAB wins opening tip and scores on their first possession.