UAB Moves to 8-2 on the Season in Dominant Win Over Millsaps

Sunday, December 12

Bartow Arena

2 p.m.

UAB

-82,00 CUSA

103

MILLSAPS

2-7,0-0SAA

Team	1	2	F
Millsaps	9	20	29
UAB	46	57	103

Photo by: Ken Shepherd

UAB Moves to 8-2 on the Season in Dominant Win Over Millsaps

12/12/2021 5:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Postgame Press Conference

BIRMINGHAM – KJ Buffen posted his second double-double of the season to help lead the Blazers to a dominant 103-29 victory over Millsaps on Sunday afternoon. UAB's 74-point margin of victory also set a program record, surpassing a previous best of 73 in a win over Hiwassee on Dec. 22, 2015.

UAB (8-2) led wire-to-wire after opening the game on a 39-4 run. Five Blazers reached double figures, highlighted by Buffen's 16 points on 87.5% shooting from the field. The Gainesville, Georgia native also pulled down 11 rebounds and has now posted two double-doubles over his past three games.

Sunday's win also helped head coach Andy Kennedy become the first UAB head coach to start 8-2 or better in each of his first two seasons as the program's head coach.

"I'm really proud of KJ," Kennedy said. "It's the third straight game he hasn't gotten in foul trouble and finished a very efficient 7-of-8 from the field.

"Jamal Johnson knocked down some shots, Jelly's floor game was good in the second half and Quan [Jackson] was outstanding. It was great to see guys like Elijah Tate and Tony Toney get minutes and get opportunities. Bottom line, we got to [win] No. 8, and that was the goal."

The Blazers, who entered the game first in the nation in total steals and steals per game, added 17 more to their season total to record their eighth double-digit steal tally in just 10 games to open the season. Junior guard Tavin Lovan paced the Blazers with five steals as UAB forced more turnovers (31) than it allowed points (29).

Twelve players scored for UAB in Sunday's win, which included a career-high 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting from Tate. Toney reached double figures for the second time in his 2021-22 campaign with 13 points and six rebounds off the bench.

The Blazers outscored Millsaps 52-14 on points in the paint and 46-10 in bench scoring in the triumph. Johnson and Jackson both tallied 13 points apiece to round out UAB's five student-athletes in double figures.

UAB's 37-point lead at the half marked its largest first-half advantage of the season, limiting the Majors to just nine points on 15.4% (4-of-26) shooting from the field. The Blazers were just one point away from their lowest number of points allowed in any half in program history, which was when UAB limited Cal to only eight points in a 20-minute span back on Dec. 28, 1987.

The Blazers will continue their six-game home stand on Sunday when UAB hosts Grambling State (3-7) in Bartow Arena. Tipoff against the Tigers is set for 6:30 p.m. and will stream live on ESPN+.

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.

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