Houston Cougars play the UAB Blazers in first round of NCAA Tournament

UAB Blazers (27-7, 14-4 C-USA) vs. Houston Cougars (29-6, 15-3 AAC)

Pittsburgh; Friday, 9:20 p.m. EDT

LINE: Houston -8.5; over/under is 136.5

BOTTOM LINE: The No. 15 Houston Cougars and UAB Blazers play in the NCAA Tournament opening round.

The Cougars are 15-3 against AAC opponents. Houston leads the AAC in rebounding, averaging 35.5 boards. Josh Carlton paces the Cougars with 6.4 rebounds.

The Blazers are 14-4 in C-USA play. UAB leads C-USA shooting 38.0% from downtown. Jon Coleman leads the Blazers shooting 66.7% from 3-point range.

TOP PERFORMERS: Kyler Edwards is averaging 13.6 points, six rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Cougars. Fabian White Jr. is averaging 10.6 points over the last 10 games for Houston.

Trey Jemison is averaging seven points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks for the Blazers. Jordan Walker is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for UAB.

LAST 10 GAMES: Cougars: 9-1, averaging 73.9 points, 34.2 rebounds, 19.2 assists, 7.7 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 60.0 points per game.

Blazers: 8-2, averaging 93.8 points, 38.6 rebounds, 9.9 assists, 8.2 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 87.3 points.

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