Good evening, the UAB basketball team is in Las Vegas tonight as they face off against Utah Valley in the NIT semifinals at Orleans Arena.

The Blazers are 28-9 overall — winning 15 of their last 17 games and setting the program record for wins in a season — and rank second nationally in total rebounds (41.0 rpg), fifth in offensive rebounding (13.5 rpg) and 10th in scoring offense (81.1 ppg).

On the other side, Utah Valley (28-8) ranks first nationally in blocks per game (6.6), second in defensive rebounding (29.97 rpg), fifth in defensive field goal percentage (39 percent) and sixth in total rebounds (40.1 rpg). Guards Justin Harmon, Le’Tre Darthard and Trey Woodbury all shoot at least 35 percent from 3-point range and Akron transfer center Aziz Bandaogo leads the nation in double-doubles (16) while averaging 11.5 points and 10.2 rebounds.

Read more on UAB sports:

UAB basketball eagerly prepared for NIT semifinal bout with Utah Valley

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Jordan Walker and Trey Jemison power UAB to NIT quarterfinal win at Vanderbilt

UAB defeated Southern Miss and Morehead State at home in the first two rounds of the NIT before advancing to Las Vegas with a quarterfinal win at Vanderbilt last week. Jordan “Jelly” Walker is the fourth-leading scorer in the nation (22.5 ppg) and Trey “The Mayor” Jemison has a C-USA-leading 11 double-doubles this season. Stay tuned to al.com/uab for postgame coverage.

— UAB 28, Utah Valley 21 (7:12) | Under-8 timeout: The Blazers increase their lead back to 10 points on a Trey Jemiosn putback but Utah Valley’s Ethan Potter hits a 3-pointer and the Wolverines grab possession before the media break.

— Ty Brewer grabs a putback dunk to increase his total to 11 points and a pair of free throws from Tavin Lovan increases the UAB lead to 24-14 with 9:15 left in the half.

— Eric Gaines scores on a layup out of the timeout, missing the and-1 opportunity, but Javian Davis follows up on the next possession to give the Blazers a 17-9 lead midway through the first half.

— UAB 13, Utah Valley 7 (11:57) | Under-12 timeout: The Blazers are currently on a 2:07 scoring drought, held without a field goal for more than four minutes, and the Wolverines cut into the deficit on a Justin Harmon jump shot.

— Blaze Nield turns it over for Utah Valley following the media timeout and Javian Davis hits a pair of free throws on the other end following a foul on Aziz Bandaogo.

— UAB 11, Utah Valley 5 (14:33) | Under-16 timeout: Jordan Walker drains his first 3-pointer of the game and Utah Valley’s Justin Harmon answers with his own shot on the other end.

— Ty Brewer gets on a personal 6-0 run, beginning with a dunk off an assist from Jordan Walker and grabbing consecutive layups to give UAB an 8-0 lead not more than three minutes into the game.

— Utah Valley wins the tip and both teams come up empty on their first possession before UAB’s KJ Buffen knocks down a pair of free throws for an early 2-0 lead over the Wolverines.

PREGAME

— Utah Valley head coach Mark Madsen will coach the Wolverines tonight after flying down to Las Vegas today. The fourth-year coach, who is expected to take the head coach position at Cal, according to Stadium’s Jeff Goodman, was awaiting the birth of his fourth child.

UAB lineup: G Jordan Walker, G Tavin Lovan, G Ty Brewer, F KJ Buffen, C Trey Jemison

Utah Valley lineup: G Justin Harmon, G Le’Tre Darthard, G Trey Woodbury, F Tim Fuller, C Aziz Bandaogo