March 2, 2012
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
| UCF vs. UAB | |
| Date | Saturday, March 3 |
| Time | 7 p.m. |
| Location | Orlando, Fla. | UCF Arena |
| Television | None |
| Radio | UCF IMG Sports Network - 740 AM |
| Tickets | Single-Game |
| Internet Coverage | Video | |
| Game Notes | UCF Notes |
| Social Media | @UCF_MBasketball | Facebook |
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Seeking a top-four finish in Conference USA, the UCF men's basketball team will host UAB for its regular-season finale Saturday. Tipoff at the UCF Arena is 7 p.m.
The Knights (20-9, 9-6 C-USA) and UAB (14-14, 9-6) are currently tied for fourth in the conference standings. The winner of the game will secure a top-four finish in the league and earn a first-round bye at the C-USA Championship, which starts next week in Memphis, Tenn.
Tickets for the game are available at all Ticketmaster outlets and online at UCFAthletics.com. On Saturday, tickets can be purchased at the UCF Arena box office. UCF students are admitted free to the contest.
Prior to the game, UCF will honor seniors P.J. Gaynor (Jacksonville, Fla.) and A.J. Rompza (Chicago, Ill.), who will both be playing their final regular-season home contest. Fans should arrive early as the senior night ceremony will begin around 6:50 p.m.
The Knights are 15-1 at the UCF Arena this year and can establish a school single-season home victory record with a win over the Blazers.
UCF defeated the Blazers for the first time in January, a 48-41 triumph in Birmingham. UAB has won seven of its last eight games and is led by Cameron Moore, who is averaging 16.3 points and 10.5 rebounds.
The game will air live on the UCF IMG Sports Network and its flagship station, 740 The Game in Orlando. Marc Daniels will have the call and will be joined by Taylor Young on the broadcast. Live video and statistics will be available at UCFAthletics.com.
Series History
? The Blazers own a 7-1 edge in the all-time series with UCF and the Knights picked up their first win over UAB on Jan. 21 in Birmingham (48-41)
? The Knights led by as many as 14 points in the first half and after the Blazers grabbed a 3-point advantage with 5:12 to play, outscored UAB 10-0 to close the game
? UCF raced out to a 12-0 lead and took a 24-15 advantage into the break
? Keith Clanton was the only Knight to finish with double digits in scoring with 10 points ? The Blazers are 4-0 against the Knights in Orlando
? When the squads met at the UCF Arena last season, the Blazers held on for a 74-69 win despite 20 points, eight rebounds and four blocks from UCF's Tom Herzog
? UAB assistant Mike Jaskulski served as UCF's associate head coach from 2006-10
Last Time Out
? The Knights were unable to complete the regular season sweep of Memphis Tuesday, falling 84-55 at the FedEx Forum
? The Tigers led for the majority of the game and built their advantage to 38 points in the second half
? Memphis shot 58.9 percent overall, compared to 38.8 percent for the Knights, who committed 18 turnovers
? Isaiah Sykes led UCF with 13 points
? On Jan. 18, UCF defeated visiting Memphis, 68-67, for the first time
Going for Fourth
? The winner of the UCF-UAB game will secure a top-four finish in the final Conference USA standings, earning a first-round bye at the league championship, which starts next Wednesday in Memphis
? UCF is in its seventh year in C-USA and has recorded top-four finishes twice (2nd in 2006-07 and fourth in 2007-08)
20-20
? The Knights have already recorded their second-consecutive 20-victory campaign under Donnie Jones
? UCF went 21-12 a year ago and recorded 19 of the victories during the regular season (two wins came during the postseason College Basketball Invitational)
? Last Saturday against UTEP, UCF secured only its seventh 20-win season since the school moved to the Division I level in 1984
Anything But Regular
? UCF's 20 victories this year are the third-most regular-season victories for the Knights at the Division I level
? The 2003-04 squad claimed 22 regular-season wins and finished the year 25-6 after winning the Atlantic Sun Championship, and the 2006-07 team also won 22 regular-season games
A Senior Moment
? Prior to tonight's game, UCF will honor seniors P.J. Gaynor and A.J. Rompza, who will both be playing their final regular season contest at the UCF Arena
? Gaynor, a native of Jacksonville, ranks sixth in program history with 117 games played and is averaging 4.1 points and 3.0 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per contest this season
? Rompza has been a four-year starter at point guard and is third all-time at UCF with 464 assists and 203 steals
Going for 10
? UCF can secure its 10th Conference USA victory of the year if it defeats UAB
? The 10 wins would be the second-most in the league since UCF joined C-USA in 2005
? The Knights' 2006-07 squad won a program-best 11 C-USA contests
Winning Time
? With one league game remaining, UCF has already topped its Conference USA victory total from a year ago as the Knights are 9-5 in the conference
? UCF went 6-10 against C-USA foes in 2010-11 and also went 6-10 in the league in 2009-10
? UCF's nine C-USA wins are the most for the program since going 9-7 in 2007-08
Hometown Heroes
? The Knights are 15-1 at the UCF Arena this year, and with a win over UAB, can establish a school single-season home victory record
? This year's squad is one of three UCF teams to post 15 home victories, joining the 2010-11 (15-4) and 2006-07 (15-1) teams
? UCF is averaging 69.1 points per game at home, compared to 62.6 points in true road contests
Getting Defensive
? A candidate for the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year award, Keith Clanton is the all-time leading shot blocker in UCF history with 159 career swats
? Clanton is averaging 2.0 blocks per game in C-USA contests to lead the league
? Clanton has 54 blocks on the year, good for sixth on the school single-season swats register
Care Package
? A.J. Rompza leads Conference USA with a 2.8 assist-turnover ratio in league play
? The senior has recorded 59 assists in conference contests with only 21 turnovers