Trojans Continue Marathon Road Trip at UAB Sunday

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Troy men's basketball team will make its triumphant return to the state of Alabama Sunday afternoon, visiting UAB for a 2 p.m. clash at Bartow Arena.

Following Sunday's matchup with UAB, the Trojans will next return to action Thursday night at North Alabama. Tip-off from Florence is set for 6 p.m.

HOW TO FOLLOW:
DATE: Dec. 6, 2020
LOCATION: Birmingham, Ala.
TIP TIME: 2 PM
WATCH: C-USA TV ($)
LISTEN: Troy Sports Radio Network (Barry McKnight, play-by-play)
LIVE STATS: Stats
SERIES: UAB leads the all-time series 11-1
Scott Cross vs. UAB: 0-1 (2019, 74-73 UAB)

LAST TIME OUT (Troy, 1-2):
After the originally scheduled home opener (Nov. 25) against Middle Georgia State was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns inside the Middle Georgia program, the Trojans instead opened the season at the Mako Medical Classic in Asheville, N.C. splitting a pair of games against Western Carolina and UNCW.

Following the Multi-Team Event (MTE), the Trojans boarded a bus for Winston-Salem for a Dec. 3 matchup with the Demon Deacons. Following a night in Winston-Salem, the Trojans were forced to pack up and return to Troy last Monday night when Wake Forest reported COVID-19 concerns inside their program.

Needing a game head coach Scott Cross and his staff scheduled former Sun Belt head coach Chris Beard and the 17th-ranked Red Raiders of Texas Tech for a Friday night clash that was televised on ESPN2. The 80-46 defeat marks the sixth consecutive season (2015-Pres.) that Troy has played a game on national TV.

LAST TIME OUT (UAB, 3-0):
UAB enters Sunday's matchup with a perfect 3-0 record after defeating SE Louisiana, Alcorn State and Kennesaw State all at Bartow Arena. In fact, UAB will play just one of its nine non-conference matchups away from the friendly confines of Bartow Arena (Dec. 12, ETSU). In the opener of the Andy Kennedy era, the Blazers rolled past Alcorn State, earning a decisive 99-50 victory. Just three days later, UAB dropped the Lions 84-59. In that contest former Georgia State guard Quan Jackson had a game-high 18. Off since last Wednesday, the Blazers defeated Kennesaw 73-48. In that game, a pair of transfers turned in strong outings as former Clemson Tiger Trey Jemison scored 13 points and 14 rebounds, while former ULM product Michael Ertel added a team-best 16.

So far this season four Blazers are averaging in double-figures. Sophomore Jalen Benjamin is averaging a team best 16 points, while the former Sun Belt stars Jackson and Ertel are averaging 14 and 12 respectively. The final double-figure scorer is Jemison, who is averaging 10.8 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. The seven-footer is shooting a blistering 10-of-14 from the floor.

PLANES BUSES AND TRAINS?
The Troy Trojans have yet to play a home game yet this season. After the conclusion of Sunday's game against UAB, the Trojans will have played four games in three different states (N.C., Texas and Alabama). Just this week alone the Trojans have spent nights in Asheville, Winston-Salem, Troy, Lubbock and Birmingham. The current five game road swing has eclipsed the 4,000-mile mark and will total almost 5,000 before it's completed. Since Thanksgiving morning Troy has spent just one day on campus (Tuesday). The Trojans will not play outside the state of Alabama the rest of the calendar year (three home, @North Alabama, @Auburn).

INTO THE WOODS
Freshman Kam Woods has scored 41 points through Troy's first three games. Woods scored 20 in the season-opener against WCU and scored a Troy best 13 against No. 17 TTU Friday.

ZAY DAY
Junior Zay Williams made his triumphant return to action against WCU, contributing 15 points and nine rebounds. Williams was a team best plus-11 in his 25 minutes of action. Williams has averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds through the first three games.

ROAD WARRIORS
Troy will open the 2020-21 campaign with six straight games away from Trojan Arena. Troy was scheduled to open the season with a home game against Middle Georgia State but that game was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns inside the Knights program.

SHORT TURNAROUND
Troy will be playing its second game in just 36 hours Sunday. Troy played #17 TTU Friday night at 8 PM. The Trojans saw their matchup at Wake Forest originally scheduled for Wednesday canceled due to COVID-19 concerns inside the Wake program.

Trojans Continue Marathon Road Trip at UAB Sunday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Zay Williams

Kam Woods

Troy University Athletics