The UAB Blazers (3-1, 0-0 Conference-USA) play the Georgia Bulldogs (4-1, 0-0 SEC) on Tuesday in the championship game of the Sunshine Slam tournament at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. UAB defeated South Florida 80-65 on Monday night to reach the tournament title game, while Georgia defeated St Joseph 66-53 on Monday to punch its ticket to the championship game of the tournament. Trey Jemison is questionable for UAB on Tuesday, while Jailyn Ingram is out for Georgia.
The UAB Blazers scored 80 points on Monday in their victory over South Florida and on the season are averaging 92.0 points per game which is seventh best in the nation. UAB is shooting 49.6% overall and 35.4% from behind the three-point line. Jordan Walker is averaging 26.0 points per game to lead UAB and shoots 47.1%, while Eric Gaines is averaging 4.7 points per game which is second best for the Blazers and shoots 45.2%. Gaines is also the dish leader with a team-best 6.7 assists per game. UAB is averaging 19.0 assists and 15.0 turnovers per contest.
The Blazers could improve on defense as UAB is allowing an average of 72.3 points per game but opponents are shooting only 39.8% overall and 30.9% from behind the 3-point line. Since UAB plays an up-tempo style, opponents have more oppor tunities to score with more possessions but the Blazers are holding their own in shooting percentage allowed. UAB averages 43.7 rebounds per game with KJ Buffen averaging a team-best 8.7 boards per game. Gaines is the leader in steals with an average of 2.7 per contest and the leader in blocks shots is Trey Jemison but he is out injured, therefore the active leader in blocked shots is Tyler Brewer with an average of 1.7 per contest.