The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the UAB Blazers meet Wednesday in college basketball action from Bartow Arena. Western Kentucky is coming into this one at 9-6 following a win over UTSA. As for UAB, they’re 12-4 overall. The Blazers lost to FIU in their last game. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.
Western Kentucky posted a nice 8-2 stretch in their first 10 games, losing to only Akron and Louisville. The Hilltoppers would lose four more to South Carolina, Rice, Middle Tennessee and North Texas before a win over UTSA.
In the UTSA game back on Saturday, the Hilltoppers jumped out to a 38-20 halftime lead. Western Kentucky was outscored 44-36 from there but still won 74-64. Emmanuel Akot posted 16 points, and Jamarion Sharp doubled on 11 points and 12 boards.
Over on the UAB side, they were 8-2 after 10 games as well. The Blazers lost to only Toledo and West Virginia. UAB is 4-2 in their last six games with wins over Southern U, Charlotte, UTEP and UTSA before losses to Florida Atlantic and FIU.
On Saturday matched up against FIU, the Blazers scored 39 points in the first half, 40 in the second and eight in overtime in a tough 90-87 defeat. Eric Gaines led the way on 19 points and Trey Jemison doubled on 17 points and 12 rebounds.
PICK: I’ll probably stick with UAB. The Blazers need a good bounce-back after shooting 25 percent (4-of-16) from 3-point range and giving up 19 turnovers in the FIU game, though. The good news for UAB is that they can score very well. The Blazers have 70 or more points in every game this year. UAB has given up a combined 175 points in their last pair of games however, so Western Kentucky should have some scoring opportunities as well.