SAN ANTONIO – Quan Jackson scored 12 of his team-high 19 points in the 2nd quarter to lead UAB (19-5, 11-4 C-USA) to a 64-57 victory over UTSA (12-10, 8-7 C-USA) on Friday night. This was only the Roadrunners’ second loss at home this season.
Tyreek Scott-Grayson scored 12 points and Michael Ertel added 11 for the Blazers. Kassim Nicholson grabbed eight rebounds for UAB.
UTSA’s Keaton Wallace recorded a double-double with game-highs 21 points and 13 rebounds.
The Blazers came out of the gates by scoring the first 10 points of the game, the last four on back-to-back dunks from Jackson caused by steals. However, the Roadrunners would respond with an 11-1 run to tie the game at 14:29. The half would be tied six more times, the last coming after a Jacob Germany dunk with 49 seconds remaining. Eric Parrish’s free throw send the game into halftime with the Roadrunners ahead 28-27.
Just like the beginning of the game, UAB scored the first 10 points of the 2nd half. Jackson’s layup put the Blazers ahead 44-34 with 14:26 to play. But UTSA would battle back to make it a one possession game after Cedrick Alley Jr.’s jumper made the score 48-45 at the 8:05 mark.
That would be as close as the Roadrunners would get, as a clutch 3-pointer from Ertel with 2:31 put UAB ahead by seven points at 2:31.
“Our defense led the way tonight, just like it has all season. When you get extra possessions because of your defensive activity, you are able to survive and that’s exactly what we did,” said head coach Andy Kennedy.
UAB forced 19 UTSA turnovers, resulting in 16 points. Scott-Grayson tied a career-high wtih four steals.
“I’m really proud of our guys. When you go on the road and you have more turnovers than assists and you still find a way to gut out a seven-point win against a UTSA team who has only lost one time all season in this building, that’s tremendous resolve for our guys.”
The two teams tipoff again Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.
MEN’S BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
Men’s basketball season tickets for the 2021-22 season are on sale now. Current basketball season ticket holders can click here to renew their original 2020-21 seat locations prior to social distancing adjustments. Click here to purchase new 2021-22 season which start as low as $100 with the Blaze’s Corner season ticket.
Fans interested in season tickets can fill out the season ticket request form or contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 to receive additional information.
For more information on the UAB men’s basketball team, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
