Blazers Blow Past Alabama A&M in BhmJam

Saturday, December 16

Legacy Arena

2:15 PM

UAB

7-4

Alabama A&M

0-11

Alabama A&M

UAB

Blazers Blow Past Alabama A&M in BhmJam

12/16/2017 5:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Getting better in some critical areas was the objective for the UAB men's basketball team on Saturday in the BHM JAM at Legacy Arena. The Blazers not only did that but they also got a lopsided 90-58 victory over Alabama A&M along the way.

"We shot the ball extremely well," said UAB head coach Robert Ehsan. "Fourteen made 3s are probably the most 3s we've made in the past three or four years. The other thing is I thought we really got some great bench contributions, which I think we'll need going forward."

UAB (7-4) shot the lights out from the outside, going 14-of-21 on 3-pointers. The most 3-pointers that UAB made in a game this season, prior to Saturday, was nine in a win at Troy. The Blazers surpassed that total early in the second half.

It was a team effort from outside the stripe. Six different Blazers had at least one 3-pointer. Zack Bryant made all four of his 3-point attempts and Nate Darling was 4-of-5 from outside the stripe.

"We've been a streaky 3-point shooting team," Ehsan said. "On any given night, we're very capable of making outside shots."
The Blazers also got 36 points from the bench, outscoring the Bulldogs' bench by 16 points, Jalen Perry was the leader off the bench 12 points, including two 3-pointers, and six rebounds.

UAB controlled the first half from the opening tip, eventually building a 46-22 lead at intermission. Seven of nine UAB players, who played, scored at least four points, led by Nate Darling and Zack Bryant. Darling and Bryant each scored nine points with all of Bryant's points coming on 3-pointers.

The Blazers scored the first six points of the game and had the lead built to 20-4 with 11 minutes left in the half. Alabama A&M (0-11) stopped a 9-0 run with a 3-pointer but William Lee started an 8-0 run with five consecutive points.

UAB, which led by as many as 29 points, shot 56.3 percent in the first half, while limiting the Bulldogs to 27.6 percent. The Blazers outscored the Bulldogs, 18-4, in the paint and UAB had 15 bench points. UAB outrebounded the Bulldogs, 23-13.

A flurry of 3-pointers early in the second half kept UAB in control. Five of UAB's first six buckets after halftime were 3-pointers. Darling had two and Bryant, Nick Norton and Thomas Smallwood each had one. The Blazers lead peaked at 32 points with 8:01 left and the Bulldogs never threatened.

UAB's scoring leader, senior Chris Cokley, didn't reach double digits in scoring for the first time this season. He finished with seven points and four rebounds while playing just 15 minutes. Darling (20 points, six rebounds, four assists), Bryant (14 points, three rebounds) and Perry were the double-digit scorers for the Blazers. Lewis Sullivan had a solid game with nine points, eight rebounds, including five on the offensive end, and two assists.

UAB outrebounded Alabama A&M, 41-21, and the Blazers dished out 20 assists.

The Blazers improved to 11-0 against the Bulldogs and have won 52 consecutive games against teams currently playing in the SWAC. Overall, it was a solid night for the

Blazers, who were coming off a loss to Auburn last Saturday and spent the week taking final exams.

"Historically, we've played poorly in this after-finals game," Ehsan said. "Last year, at home, we beat Southern at the buzzer. After a week off, as a coach, you're always paranoid about it. I think coming off the loss helps. The guys had a bitter taste in their mouths about Auburn. I think, whoever it was, they were going to come out and play hard."

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