Georgia vs. UAB

Saturday’s game is just the third all-time meeting between these two next-door neighbors. Georgia won both of the first two meetings: 12/19/81 in Atlanta’s Cotton States Classic tournament (76-72) and 12/19/87 at an event called the Phenix NCAA Ball in Tokyo (85-66). Oddly, this season Georgia is playing both of its Tokyo opponents (New Orleans & UAB) for the first time since then.

Georgia, which has struggled notoriously on the road in recent years, actually won its last true road game. The Bulldogs defeated Kentucky at Rupp Arena 90-85 back on March 4. It was their only road win of the season and just their second in two years. Coach Mark Fox’s Nevada teams won an outstanding 69 percent of their road games in five seasons.

Junior post player Jeremy Price is the leading career scorer among all current Bulldogs with 445 points (6.8 ppg). It seems inevitable, however, that sophomore Trey Thompkins will soon pass him. Playing just his 31st collegiate game tonight, the Lithonia native should score his 400th career point against UAB.

Thompkins has already established career highs in both scoring (25 vs. New Orleans) and rebounding (16 vs. Wofford) in this young season. Teammates that have set personal highs in the first two games include Chris Barnes (11 rebs. vs. UNO), Travis Leslie (5 asts, 34 min. vs. Wofford), and Drazen Zlovaric (25 min. vs. UNO).