SAN ANTONIO – UTSA ended the game on a 20-2 run en route to a 66-59 comeback victory on Saturday afternoon.
Tyreek Scott-Grayson scored 18 points for the Blazers (17-13, 8-9 C-USA). Tavin Lovan added 13 points. Both pulled down eight rebounds.
The NCAA’s leading scorer Jhivvan Jackson scored 22 of his game-high 28 points in the second half for the Roadrunners (13-16, 7-9 C-USA). C-USA’s second leading scorer Keaton Wallace added 18 for UTSA.
The Blazers defense clamped down on the Roadrunners, holding them to just one field goal in their first 10 attempts, as UAB build an early 9-3 lead in the first seven minutes. However, UTSA would answer with a 14-0 run to go ahead 17-9 at 9:08. UAB battled back to tie the game with 4:06 remaining and would take the lead at 23-21 on a Jalen Benjamin jumper at 1:35. The Roadrunners closed out the first half scoring on a dunk from Jacob Germany that knotted the score at 23-23. The UAB defense held Jackson to 3-of-12 shooting in the first half.
Scott-Grayson was on fire coming out of halftime. He scored eight points before the under 16 media timeout to give the Blazers a 37-31 advantage. The Blazers would hold the lead until 12:55 when Wallace’s and-1 made the score 39-37.
UAB would take back the lead at the midway point of the half when Antonio Ralat made a pair of free throws after a Jackson technical foul. The Blazers got the ball on the ensuing possession and scored on a Kassim Nicholson jumper. A Ralat 3-pointer capped a 9-0 run to put UAB ahead 48-41 forcing a UTSA timeout at 8:29.
With UAB ahead 55-46, UTSA went on a 16-0 run in 2:28 to take a 62-55 lead forcing a UAB timeout at 1:56. The Blazers would only get one more field goal the rest of the way, a Jordan Brinson layup as time expired.
Next up, the Blazers return to Birmingham to host Old Dominion (12-18, 8-8 C-USA) on Saturday at 7 p.m. The Monarchs are coming off an 85-80 overtime win against Florida Atlantic earlier today. The evening is UAB’s Senior Night. Will Butler and Antonio Ralat will be recognized in a pregame ceremony.
Tickets for the final home contest are on sale now and can be purchased by clicking here or by calling the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at 205-975-UAB1. Will Butler and Antonio Ralat will be recognized in a pregame ceremony for Senior Day.
Group packages are also available for 20 or more and provide your friends or co-workers an opportunity to save money while taking advantage of special fan experiences to any home basketball game. To purchase group tickets or inquire about opportunities for the 2019-20 season, please contact Chris Curtis at (205) 934-3172 or ccurtis2@uab.edu.
