Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
-147,53 CUSA
UAB
-185,82 CUSA
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Win streak snapped as UAB blows past Blue Raiders
2/5/2022 5:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Middle Tennessee built an eight-point lead late in the first half, leading for most of the opening period Saturday, but Jordan Walker and UAB erupted, controlling the final 24 minutes in a 97-75 win at Bartow Arena. Josh Jefferson led the way with 19 points as four Blue Raiders finished in double figures.
"I thought [Walker] was clearly the difference in the game," head coach Nick McDevitt said. "Every time it felt like we were making a run, he made a deep shot and continued to keep us at bay. He was terrific."
The Blazers closed the first half on a furious run. MT led 35-27 with 4:02 left in the first half, but by halftime, the home team had turned that eight-point deficit into a nine-point lead.
Walker led the UAB onslaught with 15 points in that four-minute stretch. The Blue Raiders entered the game having not allowed more than 26 points to an individual opponent on the season. Walker ended the first half with 26 points. His 42 points for the game set a UAB record for points in a single game.
After taking a nine-point lead to the locker room at halftime, UAB outscored MT 49-36 in the final 20 minutes to salt away the victory.
Middle Tennessee made 15 3-pointers for the second game in a row, once again coming one short of the program record. Jefferson and Eli Lawrence accounted for four long balls each to lead the way.
Jefferson's six rebounds led the Blue Raiders, as he, Donovan Sims and Teafale Lenard, Jr. tied for the team lead with three assists each. Lawrence (14), Sims (13) and DeAndre Dishman (10) joined Jefferson in double digits Saturday.
Middle Tennessee is back at home Monday to put its 11-game home win streak on the line against UTSA in a game originally scheduled for December 30.
