The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Thursday, December 29
Birmingham, Ala.
6:30 p.m.
UAB
-112,20 CUSA
79
vs
73
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UTEP
-85,11 CUSA
1
2
OT 1
OT 2
F
UTEP
34
23
11
5
73
UAB
30
27
11
11
79
Photo by: Brantley Bargerhuff
UAB MBB Overcomes Cold Shooting Night to Defeat UTEP in Double OT
12/29/2022 11:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM – Despite trailing for the majority of the night and shooting a season-low 36.4 percent (24-66) from the field UAB men's basketball (11-2, 2-0 C-USA) secured a 79-73 double-overtime victory over UTEP (8-5, 1-1 C-USA).
While the Blazers' starting backcourt struggled for much of the night, Efrem Johnson and KJ Buffen provided a spark to lead UAB to victory. "Butta" matched his career high of 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds, including three on the offensive end. The sole freshman on the roster found himself in the middle of numerous key moments while playing a career-high 33 minutes. Buffen put up another strong performance with 15 points, seven rebounds and seven steals.
After scoring the first basket of the game, the Miners went on a 10-0 run to go take an eight-point lead. UAB would not regain the lead until the final minute of regulation.
In the second half, UTEP stretched the lead to double digits after six minutes after a Tae Hardy jumper made it 45-34. Hardy led the Miners with 22 points.
The Blazers fought back from the deficit. After Trey Jemison's layup with 6:39 on the clock cut the UTEP lead to three, the Blazers recorded only one more field goal in regulation. However, it was a big one. Butta Johnson knocked down a clutch three-pointer with 29 seconds on the clock to give UAB its first lead since 18:23 in the first half.
Shamar Givance answered right back for UTEP with a three of his own to put the Miners up 57-56 with five seconds to go. At the buzzer Eric Gaines was fouled shooting a three and earned a trip to the free throw line. He hit one of three to send the game to overtime.
In overtime, UTEP led by five points with under one minute remaining. Despite struggling from the field for most of the night, Jordan Walker stepped up to knock down a three to cut the deficit to two with 27 seconds to go. After UTEP missed each of its free throw attempts KJ Buffen came up with a clutch rebound and putback to tie it with five seconds remaining, sending the game to a second overtime.
UAB led throughout the second OT period after taking an early four-point lead. After the Miners cut it to a one-point game, Walker converted a three-point play with the layup on a fast break to make it 75-71. Trey Jemison added a layup after an offensive board to stretch the lead back to four and Walker knocked down each of his free throws to take the 79-73 win.
NOTES
UP NEXT
The Blazers take on UTSA on Saturday, Dec. 31 to close 2022 at 3 p.m. CT at Bartow Arena.
TICKETS
UAB men's basketball single game tickets are on sale for the 2022-23 season. Men's basketball holiday packs are also now available leading into conference play and saves you 25% off the single game price. For more information about ticket pricing, call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 or request more information by clicking here.
GROUP TICKETS AND FAN EXPERIENCE PACKAGES
Individual and corporate groups can plan a memorable experience at Bartow Arena by filling out the UAB Basketball Group Ticket Request Form. Discounted group tickets and fan experiences are available for a minimum purchase of 15 tickets, and fan experiences are available on a first come, first served basis to any home basketball game during the 2022-23 season.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB men's basketball team, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
While the Blazers' starting backcourt struggled for much of the night, Efrem Johnson and KJ Buffen provided a spark to lead UAB to victory. "Butta" matched his career high of 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds, including three on the offensive end. The sole freshman on the roster found himself in the middle of numerous key moments while playing a career-high 33 minutes. Buffen put up another strong performance with 15 points, seven rebounds and seven steals.
After scoring the first basket of the game, the Miners went on a 10-0 run to go take an eight-point lead. UAB would not regain the lead until the final minute of regulation.
In the second half, UTEP stretched the lead to double digits after six minutes after a Tae Hardy jumper made it 45-34. Hardy led the Miners with 22 points.
The Blazers fought back from the deficit. After Trey Jemison's layup with 6:39 on the clock cut the UTEP lead to three, the Blazers recorded only one more field goal in regulation. However, it was a big one. Butta Johnson knocked down a clutch three-pointer with 29 seconds on the clock to give UAB its first lead since 18:23 in the first half.
Shamar Givance answered right back for UTEP with a three of his own to put the Miners up 57-56 with five seconds to go. At the buzzer Eric Gaines was fouled shooting a three and earned a trip to the free throw line. He hit one of three to send the game to overtime.
In overtime, UTEP led by five points with under one minute remaining. Despite struggling from the field for most of the night, Jordan Walker stepped up to knock down a three to cut the deficit to two with 27 seconds to go. After UTEP missed each of its free throw attempts KJ Buffen came up with a clutch rebound and putback to tie it with five seconds remaining, sending the game to a second overtime.
UAB led throughout the second OT period after taking an early four-point lead. After the Miners cut it to a one-point game, Walker converted a three-point play with the layup on a fast break to make it 75-71. Trey Jemison added a layup after an offensive board to stretch the lead back to four and Walker knocked down each of his free throws to take the 79-73 win.
NOTES
- UAB forced a season-high 25 turnovers in the game.
- The Blazers scored a season-low 57 points in regulation.
- UAB's 10 assists are a season-low.
- Butta Johnson matched his career high with 14 points and set a new career best with eight boards.
- KJ Buffen's seven steals are tied for the fifth-most steals in a game by a UAB player.
- Buffen finished with 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds to go along with his seven steals.
- UTEP's 53 rebounds mark the first time that a UAB opponent has grabbed over 50 rebounds in a game since March 16, 2016 against WKU.
- Andy Kennedy has led the Blazers to a 2-0 start in C-USA play for the third-straight season.
UP NEXT
The Blazers take on UTSA on Saturday, Dec. 31 to close 2022 at 3 p.m. CT at Bartow Arena.
TICKETS
UAB men's basketball single game tickets are on sale for the 2022-23 season. Men's basketball holiday packs are also now available leading into conference play and saves you 25% off the single game price. For more information about ticket pricing, call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 or request more information by clicking here.
GROUP TICKETS AND FAN EXPERIENCE PACKAGES
Individual and corporate groups can plan a memorable experience at Bartow Arena by filling out the UAB Basketball Group Ticket Request Form. Discounted group tickets and fan experiences are available for a minimum purchase of 15 tickets, and fan experiences are available on a first come, first served basis to any home basketball game during the 2022-23 season.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB men's basketball team, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
Team Stats
UTEP
UAB
FG%
.388
.364
3FG%
.333
.125
FT%
.560
.737
RB
53
39
TO
25
16
STL
12
13
Game Leaders
Pts
25
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
9
Pts
14
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
7
Pts
10
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Center
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's BasketballGuard
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