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Memphis faces UAB, looks to remain perfect in conference

Feb 8, 2007 - 5:03 PM No. 10 Memphis (19-3) at UAB (11-11) 9:00 pm EST

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (Ticker) - Memphis is looking to avenge its lone loss since the realignment of Conference USA.

Chasing a top seed in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year, the Tigers visit UAB on Thursday, looking for their 12th consecutive win.

Since Cincinnati, DePaul, Louisville, Marquette and South Florida left the league for the Big East Conference after the 2004-05 season, Memphis (19-3, 9-0 C-USA) has dominated the conference, notching a 22-1 record.

On March 2 of last season, the Tigers had their 15-game winning streak snapped with an 80-74 loss at UAB. This season, Memphis seems to be an even larger favorite to win the conference's regular-season championship as every other team has at least three league defeats.

It will be the second meeting between the teams this season. The Tigers ran out to a big halftime lead en route to a 79-54 victory over the Blazers on January 16.

In its last contest Saturday, Memphis made 15 3-pointers to rout SMU, 88-52. The Tigers were led by freshman Doneal Mack, who scored 15 points and drained all five of his shots from the arc.

In the opener of a three-game homestand, the Blazers will try to snap out of a funk that has seen them drop four of five overall. UAB (11-11, 3-5) suffered a 61-54 loss to Marshall on Saturday, nearly rallying from a 14-point deficit.