UAB's Comeback Comes Up Short in 66-63 Loss at South Carolina

Thursday, November 18

Columbia, S.C.

6 p.m.

UAB

-31,00 CUSA

South Carolina

3-1,0-0SEC

UAB

South Carolina

Photo by: Jenny Dilworth

UAB's Comeback Comes Up Short in 66-63 Loss at South Carolina

11/18/2021 10:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The UAB men's basketball team's second-half comeback came up just short in a 66-63 defeat at South Carolina on Thursday night at Colonial Life Arena.

The Blazers (3-1) trailed by as many as 16 in the second half before cutting the Gamecocks' advantage to just a single point twice in the game's closing minutes. UAB point guard Jordan Walker, who led the Blazers with 15 points, had a drive to the basket with six seconds remaining to take the lead, but his go-ahead layup attempt would not fall.

"Offensively, we were very uncharacteristically poor in number of areas, yet there we were with two or three opportunities to take the lead," head coach Andy Kennedy said. "We were unable to play from the front, and they knocked down a big corner three which ultimately was the separator."

Facing a 56-41 deficit with 8:01 remaining, the Blazers scored 10 straight points over the next 1:45 for trim South Carolina's lead to five points with just over six minutes left on the clock. Walker knocked down one of his three three-pointers to cap off the 10-0 run and force a USC timeout.

UAB continued to chip away at the Gamecocks' lead, cutting it to a one-possession game with 3:40 remaining when Michael Ertel converted on a jumper in the paint to make it 59-57.

Despite struggling in the first half at the free-throw line, UAB made its final 10 shots from the charity stripe to keep pace with South Carolina down the stretch. The Blazers went 13-of-16 from the line in the second half.

South Carolina (3-1) had four Gamecocks reach double figures, which included Erik Stevenson pacing USC with 15 points. The Gamecocks held a 35-25 lead at the break after shooting 45.2% from the field in the first half. UAB limited USC to just 38.1% shooting in the second stanza, grabbing just one less rebound than South Carolina for the game.

The UAB defense continued to create havoc on the defensive side of the ball, forcing 22 turnovers and collecting 14 steals. The Blazers have now tallied double-digit steal tallies in all four games this season.

Graduate guard Quan Jackson joined Walker and Ertel in double figures, pouring in 12 points and tallying three steals.

The Blazers will return to action Sunday when UAB closes out its second week of the 2021-22 season against Alabama A&M. Tipoff in Bartow Arena is set for 2 p.m. and will stream live on ESPN+.

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