Fifth-ranked Tigers seek C-USA title in Birmingham

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

02/26/2009 - Birmingham, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The fifth-ranked Memphis Tigers can clinch their fourth straight Conference USA title tonight, as they invade Bartow Arena to take on the UAB Blazers in conference action in Birmingham.

The Tigers have owned the conference for three+ seasons now and have strung together an amazing 54 consecutive conference wins. John Calipari's squad is a perfect 12-0 in league play this year and brings an 18-game win streak overall into this contest, following a 70-63 decision at UTEP last Saturday.

The Blazers are a dangerous squad with an unblemished record at home (12-0) and are the only team in the league with a perfect home mark. Mike Davis' squad has won six straight games and nine of its last 10 overall, following Saturday's 86-56 demolition of Southern Miss.

The Tigers hold a 27-10 edge in the all-time series and have won six straight and 10 of the last 12 meetings. Memphis is seeking the regular season sweep after posting an 81-68 decision back on January 17th at FedExForum.

There is little reason to think any team in Conference USA can hang with the Tigers, as they have flourished at both ends of the floor, averaging a hardy 76.2 ppg, while allowing a meager 59.1. Memphis lost All-American Derrick Rose after just one year last season and the team could be headed down the same path with the way freshman Tyreke Evans is playing. The young guard is getting it done in every facet of the game, leading Memphis in both scoring (17.1 ppg) and steals (58), while ranking second in assists (99) and third in rebounding (5.3 rpg). Help in the backcourt comes from Antonio Anderson (10.5 ppg, team- high 113 assists) and Doneal Mack (9.1 ppg), while forwards Robert Dozier 12.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg) and Shawn Taggart (10.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg) handle things in the frontcourt. Memphis trailed UTEP by three points at the half, but shot a scorching 59 percent after the break to take a seven-point win on the road. Evans was once again masterful in the win, hitting 9-of-13 from the floor to finish with a game-high 25 points. Anderson added 10 points to the cause, while Taggart and Dozier each chipped in with eight.

The Blazers make the most of their opportunities and despite averaging a rather pedestrian 73.8 ppg this season, UAB leads the conference in field-goal percentage at a .470 clip. The team possesses a trio of potent scorers, led by Robert Vaden. The veteran guard is netting 18.3 ppg this season to rank fourth in the conference and has the green light to fire away, with 244 three-point attempts on the year. He has converted on 89 of those tries to rank first in the league. Paul Delaney III averages 16.6 ppg and ranks second in the conference in field-goal percentage at an impressive 58.9 percent. Lawrence Kinnard adds 15.1 ppg and is Conference USA's top rebounder at 9.0 caroms per outing. UAB set a school record with 15 three-pointers in a 30-point rout of Southern Miss on Saturday. Vaden and Channing Toney each tallied 22 points to pace the Blazers, as Vaden hit six three-pointers in the game. Delaney and Kinnard both poured in 15 points in support, as UAB shot .555 from the field, including the same .555 from behind the arc.

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