AUBURN AUTHORITY

Auburn will open 2015-16 season against UAB

James Crepea
Montgomery Advertiser
Auburn coach Bruce Pearl has put together another nationally-ranked recruiting class in 2017 highlighted by the signing of 5-star center Austin Wiley.

AUBURN -- After months of negotiations it's finally official: Auburn and UAB will play a four-game series starting with the 2015-16 season opener.

The Tigers will host the Blazers at Auburn Arena on Nov. 13 to tip off the upcoming season. Auburn will travel to Bartow Arena in 2016-17, UAB returns to the Plains in 2017-18 and the teams will meet at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Center during the 2018-19 season, UAB announced Tuesday.

"Since I arrived at UAB three years ago, we have played in-state schools Troy, South Alabama and Alabama A&M and look forward to playing more this season," UAB coach Jerod Haase said in a statement. "We have reached out to several in-state teams during my time at UAB and Auburn has agreed to play us. I feel like this will be a terrific series that will bring additional interest and excitement to the game of basketball in the state of Alabama."'

On Monday Auburn coach Bruce Pearl expected the series, which had been in the works for two months, to be made official soon. Pearl will open his second straight season the night before Auburn and Georgia meet on the gridiron.

Auburn trails the all-time series 7-11, with the 1994 victory later being forfeited, but the teams have not met since 1999.

"Our hope is that this is the start of something special for the state of Alabama," Haase said. "Both UAB and Auburn have a rich basketball history, and this will give basketball fans in this state a unique experience over the next four years to see, traditionally, two of the top teams in the state battle it out."