BIRMINGHAM (Interstat) — Florida A&M will face UAB in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game on Monday at Bartow Arena in Birmingham. The Rattlers enter at 0-2, while the Blazers are 1-1. UAB will be the home team in a matchup that gives Florida A&M another early-season test against a Division I opponent. Florida A&M’s two losses have come against Fort Valley State and Florida State, while UAB has split games against McNeese State and Nicholls State.

Florida A&M will look to Jaden Kempson to lead its offense. In the Rattlers’ most recent game, a 75-70 loss to Fort Valley State, Kempson finished with 21 points and seven rebounds. He also scored 27 points and added one rebound and three assists in a loss to Florida State. Daisean Williford produced 22 points, one rebound and one assist in the Fort Valley State game, and Antonio Baker added four points, seven rebounds and two assists. The Rattlers will need that supporting production to complement Kempson against UAB.

UAB counters with Jeremy Elyzee, who has been productive on the boards. In the Blazers’ most recent game, a 70-63 win over Nicholls State, Elyzee had 10 points, 14 rebounds and one block. He also recorded four points, two rebounds, one assist and one block in a loss to McNeese State. Deuce Jones contributed 14 points, six rebounds and four assists in the Nicholls State win, while Justyn Fernandez scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds.

The Blazers will try to use their home court and depth to control the tempo. UAB’s recent result showed balanced scoring and a strong rebounding effort from Elyzee. Florida A&M, meanwhile, has shown it can score through Kempson and Williford, but the Rattlers are still seeking their first win of the season. The matchup at Bartow Arena will test Florida A&M’s ability to handle a UAB team playing in front of its home crowd.

Both teams are in the early portion of their schedules, and the game offers each side a chance to build momentum. Florida A&M will aim to tighten its defense after allowing 75 points in its most recent loss. UAB will focus on maintaining its rebounding advantage and limiting the Rattlers’ top scorers. The Blazers’ home setting and recent win could provide an edge, though Florida A&M has players capable of changing the game.

Interstat’s game simulator projects UAB to win 75-70. Interstat’s ELO system gives UAB a 95.7 percent probability of victory. UAB has been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -18.5, and the over/under for the game is 155.5.