BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UTSA found its shooting stroke with 15 3-pointers and all 10 Roadrunners that saw action scored as UTSA upended UAB by an 82-70 final in Conference USA action Saturday evening at Bartow Arena.
UTSA improved to 11-11 overall and 4-5 in C-USA action with the win and became just the second opponent in 13 tries to defeat the Blazers on their home floor this season. The setback moved UAB to 14-8 (5-4 C-USA).
Jhivvan Jackson led all scorers with 24 points on 10 of 19 shooting, including four 3-pointers. Deon Lyle and Giovanni De Nicolao also connected on four triples as part of their 14 and 12 points, respectively. Keaton Wallace dished out a career-high 11 assists as part of UTSA's season-high 24 dimes.
The Roadrunners closed the game shooting 48.5 percent (32 of 66) from the field, including a 53.6 percent (15 of 28) clip from three. UTSA also outrebounded the Blazers 36-34 and outscored UAB 30-13 off the bench.
Chris Cokley paced UAB with 20 points on nine field goals. Zack Bryant had 15 and William Lee tallied a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double. Jalen Perry was the fourth Blazer in double-figures with 10, which included two late triples.
The Blazers shot 47.4 percent (27 of 57) from the field and outscored the Roadrunners 36-25 in the paint.
UAB opened the second half making its first five attempts from the field as part of a 13-5 run that trimmed the Roadrunners' lead to 47-39 and prompted a UTSA timeout. Kendell Ramlal scored two at the line immediately out of the break and after defensive rebound by the senior, Jackson put the Roadrunners back up 13 with his fourth 3-point of the game with 16 minutes to play.
A Bryant 3-point play brought the Blazers within 10 at 52-42, but UTSA answered with an 8-4 spurt that pushed the visitors advantage back to 14 at 60-46 with 11:07 showing on the clock. Four of the Roadrunners' next five buckets were of the 3-point variety, including two by Lyle that bookended the under-8 media timeout. Lyle's second triple during the stretch put UTSA ahead by a game-high 21 at 74-53.
The Roadrunners later led 78-61 with 2:46 to go before UAB closed the gap with three late 3-pointer for a 9-4 final surge that provided the 82-70 final.
The return of UTSA's early-season shooting prowess was on full display in the opening half as the Roadrunners shot north of 50 percent for much of the period before producing a final 16 of 33 number. UTSA counted nine first-half 3-pointers, including four during a five possession stretch that pushed the Roadrunners ahead 29-18 with 6:55 to go before the break.
After the 3-point barrage, UTSA outscored the Blazers 13-8 over the final stages of the half to take a 42-26 lead into the intermission.
Up next
UTSA returns home to the Convocation Center to face Marshall on Feb. 1 and Western Kentucky on Feb. 3. The Marshall contest is schedule for 7 p.m. and will be carried live on beIN SPORTS. The Western Kentucky matchup is slated for 3 p.m. and will air live on Fox College Sports/HSSN.
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