Second-Half Surge Powers UAB to 101-70 Exhibition Victory Over Auburn Montgomery

Monday, November 1

Bartow Arena

6:30 p.m.

UAB

-00,00 CUSA

101

AUBURN MONTGOMERY

0-0,0-0Gulf South

AUM

UAB

101

Second-Half Surge Powers UAB to 101-70 Exhibition Victory Over Auburn Montgomery

11/1/2021 9:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM – Four Blazers reached double figures as UAB scored 67 second-half points to record a 101-70 victory in an exhibition matchup against Auburn Montgomery Monday night in Bartow Arena.

After holding a 34-29 advantage at halftime, the Green and Gold's offense exploded in the second half, shooting 52.4% from the field and 55% from behind the arc. Former Spain Park high school star and USF transfer Justin Brown paced the UAB offense with 19 points, knocking down all five of his 3-pointers in the second half.

"He's a shooter," head coach Andy Kennedy said. "He stayed with it, and that's what you get with a fifth-year senior. He's a veteran, and he's been there before.

"I thought our team did a great job encouraging him and giving him solid looks. It was truly the separation in the game."

Forward KJ Buffen added 13 points, while returning 2020-21 starters Quan Jackson (13) and Trey Jemison (10) rounded out the four Blazers reaching double figures.

UAB needed just over four minutes in the second stanza to tally half its point total from the first 20 minutes, opening the second half on a 17-4 run to stretch its lead to 51-33 with 15:54 remaining in the contest. Buckets from Buffen and Jackson fueled the early spurt for the Blazers in the second half.

"We just had to go piece by piece," Jackson said. "We all talked about it in the locker room that nobody should play harder than us, and so we went out there and played hard and we started making more shots and more free throws."

"We took over in the second half."

The Blazers continued their positive momentum throughout the second half, opening what would be their largest lead before the game's final shot with 7:31 remaining in the game. A dunk from guard Tony Toney and a made free throw from forward Rongie Gordon stretched UAB's advantage to 80-50 with just over seven minutes left of the clock.

Newcomers and former Odessa Junior College teammates Elijah Tate and AD Diedhiou also made their debuts in Monday night's victory. Tate knocked down a 3-pointer and accelerated through the paint for a layup in his first contest with the Green and Gold. Diedhiou grabbed one rebound and registered a block in his first game in a UAB uniform.

Fellow newcomers Josh LeBlanc, Sr., Jamal Johnson, Tyreke Locure and Jordan Walker also made their UAB debuts. LeBlanc, Sr. paced the Blazers with nine rebounds to go along with four points, two of which came via an emphatic alley-oop dunk via a lob from Locure. Locure finished with a team-high five assists, while Johnson (four) and Walker (three) trailed shortly behind.

Sophomore guard Jon Coleman also capped off UAB's 31-point victory with a 3-pointer in the game's closing seconds, pushing the Blazers over the century mark.

UAB will return to the hardwood for its regular season opener against UNC Asheville on Nov. 9. The Blazers' matchup against the Bulldogs will mark the 500^th regular season contest in Bartow Arena.

For more information on the UAB men's basketball team, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.

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