BEAUMONT, Texas – After a disappointing setback at No. 9 Kentucky, the Lamar University men's basketball team (4-2) will look to get back in the win column Tuesday when the travel to Birmingham, Ala., to face UAB. Winners in two of their past three games, the Cardinals are making their third stop of a four-game road swing.
 
The Blazers have also jumped out to a strong start on the young season having dropped only one game. UAB is 3-1 (.750) entering the Tuesday evening showdown. The Blazers have split their previous two games posting a seven-point victory over Mount St. Mary's a week ago. The Blazers lone setback of the season came more than a week ago against Utah Valley.
 
The Cardinals strong start has been due in large part to junior Avery Sullivan. The Pflugerville, Texas native, is off to his best start in a Red and White uniform. Sullivan is coming off back-to-back double-doubles for the Cardinals. He set new career highs with 17 points and 14 rebounds in the victory at Utah Valley and came right back with an 11-point, 13-rebound effort at No. 9 Kentucky Sunday evening.
 
The Cardinals enter the week averaging better than 75 points per game, while shooting nearly 45 percent from the field. The Cardinals are led by two of the Southland's top scorers in senior T.J. Atwood (16.7 points per game) and sophomore Davion Buster (16.2 ppg). The Cardinals are also pulling down 40 rebounds per contest while forcing opponents into nearly 20 turnovers per game.
 
The Blazers hang their hat on the defense side of the ball surrendering just 61 points per game. UAB also outrebounds its opponents by more than 13 boards per game. Led by three players averaging in double-digits, the Blazers are scoring nearly 66 points per game. The Blazers offense is triggered by Tavin Lovan's 14.8 points per game.
 
Tuesday's meeting will be just the second time the two schools have met on the court. That meeting came during the 1990-91 season with the Blazers recording a 101-88 victory.


Tuesday's game will tip off at 7 p.m. from Bartow Arena. It will also be televised on CUSA TV.