UAB Moves to 2-0 Behind Strong Opening Half in Victory Over Morehead State

Friday, November 12

Bartow Arena

6 p.m.

UAB

-20,00 CUSA

MOREHEAD STATE

0-2,0-0OVC

Morehead St.

UAB

Photo by: Ken Shepherd

UAB Moves to 2-0 Behind Strong Opening Half in Victory Over Morehead State

11/12/2021 9:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Postgame Press Conference Updated Season Stats

BIRMINGHAM – A strong first half powered by a key 10-0 run from the Blazers helped the UAB men's basketball team capture an 85-71 victory over Morehead State on Friday night at Bartow Arena.

After Morehead State (0-2) trimmed UAB's lead to 12 with an inside score from Johni Broome, the Blazers scored 10 straight points to widen a 29-17 lead to 39-17 over the span of just 2:12. Back-to-back 3-pointers from guard Jamal Johnson stretched the Green and Gold's lead to 16 before a transition dunk from Quan Jackson and an alley-oop slam from Josh LeBlanc, Sr. extended the lead to 22.

The Blazers (2-0) would tack on seven more points in the first half to double up the Eagles 46-23 at the break.

"In the first half, I really think our pressure really took them out of anything they wanted to do," head coach Andy Kennedy said. "We were really hitting on all cylinders."

Jordan Walker continued his hot start to the 2021-22 season with 23 points, scoring 12 of his 23 points in the second half. Walker came up just one point shy of his career-high of 24, which he last achieved against Tulsa in March.

Jackson, who finished the game with 15 points, six steals, four assists and three rebounds, tallied five of his takeaways in the opening half. The Blazers finished with double-digit steals for the second straight game, marking the 10^th time in just 31 games during the Andy Kennedy era that UAB has tallied 10 or more steals. Jackson accounted for half of the team's total (12) with six of his own.

"That's really how you blow the game away, by turning defense into offense and getting easy buckets," Jackson said.

The Blazers raced out to their largest lead with 18:38 remaining in the second half behind a dunk from center Trey Jemison and free throw from KJ Buffen. Jemison's slam and Buffen's free throw extended UAB's advantage to 52-25.

Morehead State slowly cut into UAB's hefty lead, but the Eagles could not get it closer than 14 points. Broome and Skyelar Potter paced Morehead State with 20 and 15 points, respectively.

UAB recorded 20 assists on 33 of its made field goals, which is the first time the Blazers have notched 20 assists in a game since a 75-63 victory over Montevallo on Dec. 14, 2019. Walker paced the Green and Gold with seven assists, while Jackson finished second on the roster with four.

UAB will close out its three-game homestand to open the season when the Blazers host Rhodes College on Sunday afternoon at Bartow Arena. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. on CUSA.tv.

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

MEN'S BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
UAB men's basketball single-game tickets start as low as $12 and can be purchased by clicking here or calling the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1. Season tickets are also still on sale and provide the most cost-effective way to attend games during the 2021-22 men's basketball season with individual season tickets starting as low as $100 within Blaze's Corner. Season ticket holders also have access to the best seating locations in Bartow Arena. You can request more information or purchase by clicking here.

Discounted group tickets and fan experiences are available for a minimum purchase of 15 tickets to any home basketball game during the 2021-22 season. Groups are encouraged to complete the UAB Basketball Group Ticket Request Form or call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office for more information.