GAME NOTES: UAB looks to continue its strong start in Conference-USA play when the Blazers host the Charlotte 49ers on Thursday.

The Blazers went 4-9 against non-conference opponents but improved to 4-1 in league action with Saturday's 63-56 win over Southern Miss. UAB held a commanding advantage in bench scoring, 27-2, and outscored the Golden Eagles from the charity stripe, 15-10, in the win.

Robert Brown scored 15 points and dished out seven assists, while Chris Cokley tallied 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

The Blazers aren't the most dangerous offensive squad around. The team averages a modest 65.8 ppg this year and does so on a rather bland .415 shooting. Brown is the top threat on a regular basis with his 13.5 ppg, although he has made just 64.2 percent of his free-throw tries. C.J. Washington (8.5 ppg) accounts for 4.5 rpg, one of the top marks on the Blazers, as no one is pulling down five rebounds per contest.

The 49ers surprisingly dropped a 73-68 decision in overtime against Rice on Saturday, dropping them to 2-3 in league play and back under .500 overall at 8-9.

Charlotte held a 59-53 lead with 3:23 left in regulation, but Rice scored the last six points to force overtime. The 49ers hit just 1-of-5 3-point attempts in the final five minutes and missed both of their free throw tries.

For the game, Charlotte made just 7-of-15 (46.7 percent) from the foul line.

Torin Dorn led the 49ers in scoring with 16 points, Pierria Henry and Willie Clayton each added 15 points and eight rebounds and Braxton Ogbueze tallied 11 points in the setback.

Charlotte is ranked third in the C-USA in scoring offense with 73.2 ppg despite ranking last in the conference in free-throw percentage (.612). A balanced attack is the key to the 49ers' success, with seven players averaging at least 7.1 ppg. Dorn leads the way with 12.4 ppg, while Henry is chipping in 11.7 ppg while ranking among the C-USA leaders in steals (2.6 spg) and assists (5.6 apg).

UAB leads the all-time series, 26-16, and is 14-5 against the 49ers at home. The Blazers are finding their groove at just the right time, and Charlotte will not have any answers.