CHARLOTTE – UAB fell for the first time in Conference USA play after a 70-55 setback at Charlotte on Saturday afternoon.
The Blazers (10-2, 3-1 C-USA) were led by Tavin Lovan with 14 points. Trey Jemison scored 10 points and had five rebounds.
Bryce Williams scored a game-high 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting for the 49ers (6-6, 2-2 C-USA). Jahmir Young and Jhery Matos added 14 and 13 respectively. Young had seven assists.
The 1st half was a game of runs. UAB opened the contest by scoring the first five points before Charlotte responded with an 18-0 run, capped by a Matos 3-pointer at 13:01. The Blazers scored the next seven points to make the score 18-12 at the midway point of the half. Back-to-back field goals from Kassim Nicholson made it a two-possession game at 25-21 with 5:13 remaining.
With the Blazers still trailing by four points, Michael Ertel was fouled while shooting a 3-pointer as the 1st half buzzer sounded. He made all three foul shots, sending the game into halftime with UAB down by one point at 31-30.
Ertel opened 2nd half with a fade away jumper giving the Blazers its first lead since the 17:32 mark of the 1st half. The lead would exchange twice before the 49ers would use a 7-0 run to take a 40-34 advantage at 15:24.
UAB would get within two points of tying three times, the last coming after Rongie Gordon’s offensive rebound off a missed Ertel 3-pointer that made the score 50-48 at 9:46. However, the 49ers would score the next eight points to take a double-figure lead after Milos Supica’s dunk at 7:45.
The closest UAB would get was nine points with 5:13 remaining.
“I thought we battled, in the 1st half we were down 13 and it could have been easy to tap out,” said head coach Andy Kennedy. “We got it down to one and had opportunities in the 2nd half to change the momentum, but our inability to defend showed that it was a tale of two different games.”
The Blazers struggled from the 3-point line, making only 1-of-15, while the 49ers converted 10-of-19. Charlotte shot 72% in the 2nd half, making 13-of-18 field goals.
“When your opponent shoots 13-of-18, it’s hard to battle back.”
The Blazers return to action Jan. 22-23 at Bartow Arena for a pair of games against Rice. Friday’s tipoff is at 6:30 p.m. Saturday’s game will be the 12th annual Bartow Classic and will have a 4 p.m. start.
MEN’S BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
In compliance with CDC and state and local public health guidance, UAB adjusted the seating manifest to adhere to social distancing at Bartow Arena for the 2020-21 season. UAB reallocated season ticket holders who had completed their purchase of season tickets through October 19 and placed season ticket holders based on Blazer Boosters Priority Points and the price type of tickets purchased. As a reminder, original season ticket locations prior to the social distancing reallocation will be utilized for 2021-22 renewals or if capacity restrictions change during the 2020-21 season.
Due to social distancing guidelines, men’s basketball single game tickets and walk up sales are not be available to the public for the 2020-21 season.
Fans interested in season tickets are encouraged to fill out the season ticket request form or contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1. A member of the UAB Athletics Sales and Service team will be in touch if capacity restrictions are lifted or when 2021-22 season tickets become available.
