UAB Caps Off Perfect Opening Week With 98-61 Win Over Rhodes College

Sunday, November 14

Bartow Arena

2 p.m.

UAB

-30,00 CUSA

RHODES

2-1,0-0SAA

Rhodes

UAB

Photo by: Ken Shepherd

UAB Caps Off Perfect Opening Week With 98-61 Win Over Rhodes College

11/14/2021 5:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Postgame Press Conference Season Stats

BIRMINGHAM – The UAB men's basketball team tied a school record with 23 steals in a single game as the Blazers notched a 98-61 victory over Rhodes College on Sunday afternoon in Bartow Arena.

UAB (3-0) recorded 15 of its 23 steals in the first half, holding a 63-24 advantage at halftime. The Green and Gold's 63 first-half points tied a school record for points in a first half, which was last achieved in UAB's 117-45 victory over Rust College in February.

Junior center Trey Jemison registered a double-double in just under 13 minutes played in the first half, grabbing 11 rebounds to go along with 10 points. Jemison's first-half efforts helped him record the fifth double-double of his career.

With the Blazers holding a slim 8-7 advantage with 15:33 remaining in the opening half, UAB used a 20-2 run over the next five minutes to blow the game open. The Blazers widened their first-half lead to a then game-high 39 points as Tyreke Locure knocked down a pair of free throws in the half's waning seconds.

In the second half, UAB expanded its lead to a game-high 47 points when Tony Toney knocked down one of his two made 3-pointers of the contest. Toney finished with a season-high 14 points, capping off the Blazers' victory with an emphatic dunk.

Five Blazers finished the contest in double figures, including graduate Michael Ertel, who logged 15 of his team-high 20 points in the first half. Ertel finished the game 7-of-11 from the field with three made 3-pointers. Locure (14), Toney (14), graduate guard Quan Jackson (14) and Jemison (12) rounded out the group of five UAB players with 10 points or more.

"I think [the depth] is amazing," Jemison said. "That's going to make us lethal this year.

"It's hard to scout us. One through five and five through 10 are all elite players, so it's going to come up big in conference play and every other game."

UAB's victory also makes head coach Andy Kennedy the first Blazer head coach in program history to start his first and second seasons 3-0. He moves to 25-7 through his first 32 games as UAB's head coach.

UAB will hit the road for the first time this coming week, traveling to Columbia, South Carolina, for a clash against the Gamecocks. Thursday night's tipoff at South Carolina is set for 6 p.m. CT and will stream live on SEC Network+.

"Thursday is going to be a completely different animal," Kennedy said. "We're going to Columbia against my good friend Frank Martin, and they're a physical, athletic SEC basketball team.

"We're going to have to raise our level. Really proud of what we've done to this point, and I'm looking forward to us moving forward."

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.