WKU Rallies to Defeat UAB

Thursday, January 18

Bowling Green, Ky.

8:00 PM

UAB

13-6 (4-2)

WKU

14-5 (6-0)

UAB

WKU

WKU Rallies to Defeat UAB

1/19/2018 12:18:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Dwight Coleby had 17 points and 11 rebounds and WKU rallied for a 77-69 victory over UAB Thursday evening at Diddle Arena.

Justin Johnson added 18 points and 11 rebounds and Josh Anderson chipped in with 12 points and two steals off the bench.

Chris Cokley led UAB with 17 points and 11 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season, while William Lee notched his second double-double of the year with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Freshman Zack Bryant finished with 16 points and five assists and Nick Norton hit four 3-pointers and scored 12 points.

Cokley put UAB up 57-50 midway through the second half with a layup to give the Blazers their biggest lead of the game. WKU would cut the lead to three minutes later on a jumper from Darius Thompson, but Norton answered with a three-pointer in the corner to push the lead back to six.

Seven straight points from the Hilltoppers allowed WKU to regain the lead for the first time since the 18:35 mark of the half. Back-to-back baskets from Cokley and Bryant put UAB back on top 67-64 with 4:36 remaining.

Jake Ohmer was fouled on a three-point attempt less than a minute later and UAB was called for a technical immediately thereafter, and Ohmer made four of his five attempts to give WKU a 69-67 lead.

The Hilltoppers held UAB scoreless for the next 3:35 and went 4-for-4 from the free throw line over the final 38 seconds to hold on for the victory.

WKU built a 13-4 lead four minutes into the first half before the Blazers rattled off a 9-0 run over the following 2:43 to pull even on a three-pointer by Norton.

Jalen Perry gave UAB its first lead when he connected on a three-pointer at the top of the key to put Blazers ahead 19-18 with just under eight minutes before halftime. WKU answered with a 13-2 run to regain the lead and take a 31-21 advantage.

Three-pointers from Norton and Lee and two baskets from Bryant pulled UAB even with 58 seconds left, but WKU scored the final five points of the half to lead 36-31 at halftime.

UAB returns to action Saturday at 6 p.m. (CT) when the Blazers travel to Huntington, W.Va., to face Marshall at the Henderson Center.

For more information on UAB men's basketball, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_MBB), Instagram (@UAB_MBB) and Snapchat (@UAB_MBB).