GAMEDAY Mens Basketball
Alabama-Birmingham 86, Florida Atlantic 77
Associated Press
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Eric Gaines scored 21 points and UAB ended No. 19 Florida Atlantic's nation-best 20-game winning streak with an 86-77 victory.
The Owls (21-2, 10-1 Conference USA) hadn't lost since falling 80-67 to Mississippi on Nov. 11 and made their debut in the AP Top 25 2 1/2 weeks ago.
Jordan "Jelly" Walker had 13 points and six assists for UAB (16-7, 7-5) in his return from a foot injury that had sidelined him since Jan. 11.
The Blazers closed the first half on a 14-2 run capped by back-to-back 3-pointers from Walker and Ty Brewer for a 43-30 lead.
Tavin Lovan added 10 points for UAB.
Nick Boyd led Florida Atlantic with 18 points. Johnell Davis added 17 on 5-of-19 shooting. Vladislav Golden had 13 points and seven rebounds, scoring 10 in the first half.
FAU outscored the Blazers 10-2 in the first 3:28 of the second half to get within three points. UAB regained control and twice built 16-point leads. The last one came with 4:55 left following five consecutive points by Walker.
Florida Atlantic made one last push after falling behind 78-62, starting with an 8-0 run. Davis hit a pair of 3s and made two free throws - and Boyd also made a 3 - to cut it to 80-73 with 1:49 left.
The Blazers didn't let the Owls get any closer.
BIG PICTURE
Florida Atlantic: Despite the late 3-pointers, it was a bad night outside the arc for the Owls. They made 8 of 36 (22%). FAU will have to wait to set the program's single-season win record.
UAB: The Blazers, who have struggled at the free-throw line in some losses, were 26 of 31 from the line (84%). Gaines was 10 of 11. They also made 27 of 60 shots (45%) from the field.
February 2, 2023
| Florida Atlantic | ||||||||||||
| Player | Pos | Min | FG-FGA | FT-FTA | 3P-3PA | OR-TR | Ast | Blk | Stl | TO | PF | Pts |
| V. Goldin | F | 21 | 5-8 | 3-4 | 0-0 | 2-7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 13 |
| N. Boyd | G | 32 | 7-13 | 0-0 | 4-10 | 3-7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 18 |
| J. Gaffney | G | 21 | 2-6 | 0-0 | 0-3 | 0-1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| B. Greenlee | G | 18 | 3-5 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| B. Weatherspoon | G | 15 | 1-6 | 0-0 | 0-4 | 1-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| J. Davis | 32 | 5-19 | 5-5 | 2-9 | 3-8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 17 | |
| A. Martin | 25 | 2-9 | 4-4 | 1-4 | 1-3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9 | |
| M. Forrest | 17 | 1-7 | 1-2 | 1-5 | 1-4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| G. Rosado | 15 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | |
| B. Lorient | 4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Totals | 200 | 28-75 (.373) |
13-15 (.867) |
8-36 (.222) |
15-37 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 21 | 77 | |
| UAB | ||||||||||||
| Player | Pos | Min | FG-FGA | FT-FTA | 3P-3PA | OR-TR | Ast | Blk | Stl | TO | PF | Pts |
| K. Buffen | F | 32 | 3-5 | 3-3 | 0-0 | 1-9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| T. Jemison | C | 22 | 2-5 | 4-6 | 0-0 | 1-4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
| E. Gaines | G | 28 | 5-10 | 10-11 | 1-5 | 1-2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 21 |
| L. Brewer | G | 21 | 1-8 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 1-4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| T. Lovan | G | 20 | 4-8 | 2-3 | 0-0 | 2-7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| J. Walker | 27 | 4-12 | 3-4 | 2-10 | 1-2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 13 | |
| T. Toney | 22 | 3-5 | 3-3 | 0-1 | 2-5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |
| J. Davis | 18 | 3-5 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 2-5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | |
| T. Brewer | 10 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 0-3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | |
| Totals | 200 | 27-60 (.450) |
26-31 (.839) |
6-20 (.300) |
13-45 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 18 | 86 | |
