The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
4-2
Temple
3-3
Second-Half Surge Leads Temple Over UAB, 87-66
11/24/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 24, 2013
PDF Final Box | PDF UAB Postgame Notes
Final Stats | Photo Gallery 
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - C.J. Washington scored a career high 28 points, but Temple pulled away from UAB in the second half to take fifth place at the Charleston Classic with an 87-66 victory Sunday night.
The Owls trailed 43-41 early in the second period when they began a 36-13 run to take control.
UAB (4-2) falls for the second time at TD Arena, losing a 97-94 double-overtime heartbreak to No. 19 New Mexico in its tournament opener Thursday.
“I was certainly discouraged with our effort and enthusiasm tonight,” head coach Jerod Haase said. “We were just unable to stop them and I expect more out of my team and myself as we go forward.”
UAB made 5-of-6 from the field to begin the game and established an early 14-13 lead with 15:35 remaining in the first half. Both teams continued the hot shooting in the opening stanza as Temple hit 56.3 percent (18-of-32) and UAB knocked in 51.7 percent (15-of-29) of its shots in a back-and-forth first half.
Washington paced all scorers in the first period with 16 points off a 6-for-7 shooting performance. Temple had two players in double figures with Anthony Lee’s 10 and Dalton Pepper’s 14 in the first 20 minutes.
The first half saw 12 lead changes and nine ties as the score was knotted up 39-39 at the break.
In the second period, Temple continued the hot shooting, led by Pepper’s 10 second-half points. The Owls also made 12-of-13 (92.3 percent) at the free throw line and outscored the Blazers in the paint, 20-10, in the final stanza on its way to the 87-66 win.
UAB’s Washington led all scorers in the game with his 28 points to go along with 10 rebounds, while Blazer guard Robert Williams finished with 11 points.
UAB now returns home to face Florida A&M on Wednesday at 1 p.m. CST, before hosting North Carolina on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. CST.
