BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Privateers trailed by as much as 17 and made it a one-possession game but the Blazers were able to remain perfect on the young season, defeating the University of New Orleans (2-2) 75-68 Wednesday evening at Bartow Arena.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (2-0) led by as much as 10 with just over a minute to play, with UNO cutting it to seven, before the Privateers fell just short of completing the comeback.
Ezekiel Charles finished with a career-high 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting,
Gerrale Gates added 11 points and nine rebounds and
Scott Plaisance Jr. finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.
Jahmel Myers came off the bench with nine points and five rebounds and was +11 when on the court.
FIRST HALF
Charles was the hot hand early, scoring eight points in less than five minutes to put UNO ahead 9-8. As the teams traded points,
Damion Rosser's put back dunk with 12:52 to go regained the lead for the Privateers (15-13). While the Blazers tied the game at 15-all, UAB continued to struggle from the line, going 2-of-7 heading into the under-eight media. Prior to the timeout on the floor,
Bryson Robinson swipe and layup gave the Privateers a two-point edge.
Robinson found the game's leading scorer early on in Charles for his third triple of the half and 11
th point of the game to extend the UNO lead to five.
For the sixth time in the first, the game was tied, this time on Charles' fourth three-pointer with 3:27 to go.
UAB closed the half on a 9-0 run to go into the halftime break leading 37-28.
Charles led all players with 14 points – 12 from long distance. The Privateers shot 50.0 percent from the floor but UAB scored 20 points off UNO's 10 turnovers and finished the half with 22 points in the paint.
SECOND HALF
Down 17 with 12 minutes to go, Plaisance Jr. drained a triple to cut the deficit to 10 as the Privateers came surging. The run continued following the media timeout as Rosser's swarming defense led to a Myers dunk.
After a Blazers basket, Charles found Myers for a trey and Robinson collected an and-one to make it a 60-55 ballgame with 8:48 left to play.
Rosser found a cutting Myers for a layup that made it a one-possession game.
UAB gave itself a cushion but the resilient Privateers, with freshman Myers and
Gerrale Gates highlighting, continued to chip away.
With 3:55 remaining and the Blazers leading 67-61, Plaisance drained his two free throws to cut the UAB lead to four.
Back-to-back Plaisance layups sandwiched by a UAB turnover gave the Privateers a chance but UAB was able to squeak past UNO 75-68.
NEXT UP
New Orleans returns to Lakefront Arena for a three-game homestand, beginning with Governor's State November 24 at 12 p.m.
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