The UAB Blazers will go for their first NCAA tournament win in nine years when they meet San Diego State on Friday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, Wash.

The 12th-seeded Blazers are 23-11 this season, having won the American Athletic Conference tournament. UAB is in the tournament for the second time in three years under coach Andy Kennedy, but last won a “March Madness” game in 2015, beating Iowa State in the opening round.

The 5th-seeded Aztecs are 24-10, earning an at-large bid after finishing as Mountain West Conference tournament runner-up. San Diego State is in the NCAA tournament for the fourth straight year, and reached the national championship game before losing to Connecticut last season.

Tip-off for UAB-San Diego State is set for 12:45 p.m. Central on TNT. The winner faces the winner of Friday’s later game between No. 4 Auburn and No. 13 Yale in Sunday’s second round.

Follow along below for live updates as the Blazers look to advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament:

Pre-game

Starting lineups

UAB

G — Eric Gaines

G — Alejandro Vasquez

G — Efrem Johnson

F — Yaxel Lendeborg

F — Christian Coleman

San Diego State

G — Lamont Butler

G — Darrion Trammel

F — Micah Parrish

F — Jay Pal

F — Jaedon LeDee

First half

Under way in Spokane … As the lower seed, UAB in road grays with “Birmingham” across the chest. San Diego State in white.

17:09 — San Diego State 7, UAB 3 … Alejandro Vasquez puts UAB on the board with a 3-pointer, but Jaedon LeDee answers with one of his own for the Aztecs. LeDee has all 7 of SDSU’s points.

15:11 — San Diego State 11, UAB 9 … Butta Johnson with back-to-back 3s to get UAB back in the game. Blazers 3-for-3 from 3.

14:40 — SDSU still leads 11-9 at the first media timeout. UAB ball coming back after an Aztecs foul.

14:20 — UAB’s Javian Davis with an offensive board and putback to tie it at 11-11.

11:45 — Aztecs up 16-13 and Lamont Butler will head to the line for 2 after the U12 timeout. LeDee, who has 11 points already, currently getting a breather for San Diego State. Butta Johnson has six to lead the Blazers.

10:54 — San Diego State now leads 21-13 after Elijah Saunders’ 3-pointer.

10:13 — Vasquez hits a 3-ball for UAB to make it 21-16. Blazers 4-for-5 from beyond the arc thus far, but have turned the ball over 7 times.

9:12 — LeDee back in for San Diego State. He is an absolute load on both ends. Yaxel Lendeborg just got his 2nd foul, so he sits down. Aztecs lead 25-16.

8:33 — Micah Parrish with a fallaway jumper to give the Aztecs their largest lead at 27-16. Andy Kennedy calls timeout for UAB, which has been outscored 11-3 in about the last 3 minutes. San Diego State shooting 68.8% from the field.