Men's Hoops take on UAB Saturday

FAYETTEVILLE — The Razorbacks had their five-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday night and hope to make it just a bump on their way through the 2009-10 season as the Arkansas men take on Alabama Birmingham on Saturday morning at Bud Walton Arena. Tip time for the contest is 11 a.m. so that Arkansas fans may enjoy a day of Razorback athletics with the basketball game and then the football team’s participation in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl at 4:30 p.m.

Arkansas (7-6) took a blow in the Baylor contest when it learned that Mike Washington would not be able to start. Despite that, the Razorbacks outrebounded a much bigger team in the first half and went into the dressing room down by three. Washington would return to action in the second period, but only after the Bears went on a solid second-half run securing Arkansas’ defeat. Junior Jemal Farmer however had a very good game with his second double-double of the season (11 points, 10 rebounds).

Alabama Birmingham (11-2) brings athleticism to the court and are coming off a loss at Virginia, 73-72, on Wednesday night. The loss ended a 10-game winning streak for the Blazers. Led by Elijah Millsap (16.3, 9.9) the Blazers have defeated SEC opponent Georgia and common opponents with Arkansas, East Tennessee St. (74-52) and South Alabama (72-54).

The 2010 meeting between Arkansas and Alabama Birmingham is just the third in the history of the two programs and the first since January 30, 1991. Arkansas is 2-0 all time against the Blazers. John Pelphrey has coached against Alabama Birmingham two times over the years and is 0-2 against them.

The Arkansas-UAB game will be a regional broadcast courtesy of the Razorback Sports Network with Scott Inman and former Razorback Jimmy Dykes providing the on-air talent. The contest can also be heard on radio across the state of Arkansas on the Razorback Sports Network with Mike Nail and Rick Schaeffer giving the calls. Nail is in his 29th and final season as the play-by-play voice of the Razorbacks.

Looking past the UAB contest, Arkansas gets right back on the court with a game against Texas on Jan. 5, at Bud Walton Arena.