UAB MBB Escapes at Home Against Alcorn State

Thursday, November 16

Birmingham, Ala.

7 p.m.

UAB

2-2,0-0AAC

Alcorn State

1-3,0-0SWAC

Alcorn

UAB

Photo by: Sully Ortega

UAB MBB Escapes at Home Against Alcorn State

11/16/2023 11:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM – Efrem "Butta" Johnson sank a three from the corner with 27 seconds to go to give UAB men's basketball (2-2) the win over Alcorn State (1-3), 80-77.

Johnson and Alejandro Vasquez each recorded career-high scoring efforts with 18 and 25 points, respectively, to spark the Blazers' comeback. Alcorn State scored the first 11 points of the game and held a 16-point lead at 23-7 at the 12:21 mark in the first half.

Vasquez helped UAB get back into the game with 15 points in the first half, all in the final 12 minutes. The Blazers worked the Braves' lead down to just one point at the break.

The Blazers opened the second half by getting the ball to Johnson for a three to take the lead for the first time at 44-42. Johnson's three sparked a 15-2 UAB run that was capped by an Eric Gaines' three at the 15:44 mark to give the Blazers a 56-44 lead.

However, the Braves would not go away. With UAB leading 66-56 at the 9:39 mark, Alcorn State went on a 16-2 run that included a UAB scoreless stretch of nearly 3:30 of game time. The Braves took a four-point lead with 3:14 remaining on a Jalen Hawkins layup.

Vasquez cut the Alcorn lead in half with a midrange jumper and Gaines knocked down one of two free throws on the next possession to make it a one-point game at 74-73. Gaines then put UAB in front with a tough layup through contact and put in a floater on the next possession to make it a three-point game at 77-74.

Hawkins responded for Alcorn, knocking down a three after the timeout to tie the game at 77 with 41 seconds remaining. Johnson came through for the Blazers on the ensuing possession after Gaines found him in the corner with 27 seconds to go. The final seconds involved a missed midrange jumper, a UAB rebound, turnover and then a pair of misses by the Braves in the final moments as the Blazers escaped with an 80-77 win.

NOTES

Vasquez scored a career high 25 points, his second-career 20-point game and first since his freshman year at St. Bonaventure when he scored 20 points against Rutgers (11/16/19).
Johnson scored a career high 18 points, surpassing his previous high of 17 that he set vs. Clemson earlier this season on his game-winning three with 27 seconds left. His four three-point field goals also surpass his previous best of three that he set against Clemson.
Eric Gaines added 15 points and seven rebounds while scoring or assisting each of UAB's final eight points.
UAB turned the ball over a season-high 18 times.
The Blazers shot a season-high 47.4 percent from the field (27-57).
UAB has trailed and led by at least eight points in every game this season while each game has been decided by three points or less. The Blazers have led and trailed by at least 11 in three of four contests.

ANDY KENNEDY
"A lot of work to do. Any time you get a win, I've been doing this a long enough time to realize, you take it."

"We had some guys step up – Eric with a couple big plays late; AJ [Vasquez] continues to become that primary scorer we need."

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