GAME NOTES: Both UAB and Old Dominion have a quick turnaround as the teams meet at Bartow Arena for a Conference USA clash on Saturday evening.

The programs were both in action Thursday, as UAB outlasted Charlotte in overtime, and Old Dominion dropped an overtime decision at Middle Tennessee.

The close win over Charlotte kept the Blazers in second place in the conference standings with a 5-1 mark, although they are still under .500 overall at 9-10.

Nick Norton finished with 26 points and five assists for UAB, which also received 14 points and five assists from Robert Brown. Hakeem Baxter and William Lee netted 11 points apiece, while Tosin Mehinti pulled down nine rebounds. Baxter hit a big basket late in overtime to give the Blazers a three-point lead, and they held on from there by going 12-of-13 at the free throw line over the final five minutes.

The Blazers aren't the most dangerous offensive squad around, as the team averages a modest 66.6 ppg and does so on a rather bland .418 shooting percentage. Brown is the top threat on a regular basis with his 13.5 ppg, although he has made just 65.5 percent of his free throws. C.J. Washington (8.3 ppg) accounts for 4.3 rpg, one of the top marks for the Blazers, as no one is pulling down five rebounds per contest.

Five other players average at least 6.5 ppg in UAB's balanced scoring attack.

Old Dominion fell to 4-2 in C-USA play with its hard-fought loss to Middle Tennessee. Trey Freeman paced ODU with 18 points on 7-of-19 field goal efficiency, while Denzell Taylor chipped in with 12 points and seven rebounds.

The Monarchs were limited to just one field goal in the extra session, and an 11-0 run by Middle Tennessee iced things.

Old Dominion is still a defensive juggernaut, allowing just 56.1 ppg, and the Monarchs own a plus-7.6 rebounding margin. Freeman is netting 15.9 ppg on 42.1 percent efficiency from the field, to go along with 3.3 apg. Aaron Bacote chips in 9.9 ppg, and George Mason transfer Jonathan Arledge has been stepping up his performance of late with averages of 10 points and just over six rebounds over his last six games.

The Monarchs need to prove they can win away from home, where they are 10-0 this season. A victory over an improving UAB squad would go a long way, but the Blazers will have something to say about that in what should be a defensive battle that will likely come down to the wire.