GAME NOTES: The UAB Blazers try to avoid a third straight setback as they entertain the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in Conference USA action at Bartow Arena.

UAB, which hasn't dropped three in a row since the end of December, was taken to double-overtime on Valentine's Day by Rice and came up lame in the second extra session, en route to an 82-73 setback on the road. As a result, the Blazers are now 9-4 in conference play, which pushes the squad behind WKU which was 9-3 entering the week.

The Hilltoppers are also hoping to prevent their third loss in a row, something that hasn't happened since November when the squad succumbed to Minnesota, Belmont and Stony Brook. Last weekend, Western Kentucky was turned away by Marshall on the road, 87-82.

UAB leads the all-time series, 18-10, posting 10 wins in 13 opportunities in Birmingham. The most recent meeting took place back in 2006 with the Hilltoppers capturing a 69-54 triumph.

The Hilltoppers shot better behind the 3-point line (.433) than they did from the floor overall (.429) against Marshall, but still the visitors came up with the five-point setback at the Cam Henderson Center. Chris Harrison-Docks scored a team-best 20 points, Trency Jackson posted 16, T.J. Price 13 points, six rebounds and six assists, followed by Ben Lawson and George Fant with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

With his effort against the Thundering Herd, Fant eclipsed the 1,500-point mark, which means he and Price are the first pair of active WKU performers to score more than 1,500 points in more than six decades. Price is pacing the group versus the rest of the league with his 18.2 ppg, thanks to his 29 triples, which ties Harrison-Docks (11.4 ppg) for the most in those 12 conference bouts. Fant pitches in with 15.9 ppg and is first on the glass with 10.3 rpg.

In a game that featured 10 ties and eight lead changes, the Blazers picked the wrong time to go cold as they scored a mere two points in the second overtime period, en route to the loss at Rice. Robert Brown tried to keep hope alive with a team-best 20 points, but he wasn't around for the conclusion due to picking up his fifth personal foul. Tosin MeHinti tacked on 18 points and eight rebounds, followed by William Lee with a double-double consisting of 13 points and 10 boards for a program that suffered 19 turnovers and was outscored at the free-throw line, 24-14.

Brown, one of five players to have started every league bout, is the only one scoring in double figures on a regular basis with his 13.7 ppg. Averaging a team-high 33.0 minutes per contest, Brown is tied for the team lead with 22 3- pointers, matching the effort put forth by Nick Norton who is averaging a modest 8.3 ppg. The team as a whole has relied on very strong shooting at the free-throw line (.799), which is dramatically better than the rest of the league which settles in at just 67.6 percent.

On paper the Hilltoppers are the better team, but don't expect to see UAB simply roll over and accept a loss in front of the home crowd. However, if the Blazers don't get more scoring support that might just be the case.