UAB Blazers Edge Out Bulldogs in Overtime at Bartow Arena

In a closely contested matchup at Bartow Arena, the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers secured a narrow victory over the Drake Bulldogs with a final score of 79-78. The Blazers now hold an impressive record, while the Bulldogs' record reflects their valiant effort in the game.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers demonstrated resilience and skill on their home court. Both teams ended regulation time with 72 points each, pushing the game into overtime. In those decisive extra minutes, it was the Blazers who managed to outscore their opponents by just one point to clinch victory.

The Blazers showcased a balanced offensive and defensive performance throughout the game. They shot an impressive 51 percent from the field and 40 percent from beyond the three-point line. Their two-point shooting was particularly effective, hitting 58 percent of those attempts. The team also made good use of free throw opportunities, converting 65 percent of shots from the charity stripe.

Defensively, UAB recorded five blocks and nine steals during playtime which contributed significantly to their win. They also capitalized on turnovers by scoring 11 points off Bulldog mistakes while maintaining a higher assist-to-turnover ratio than their opponents (1.27). Despite being outrebounded by Drake's total count of 34 rebounds to UAB's 28, they still managed to secure crucial offensive rebounds that led to 14 second-chance points.

On Drake's side, they were not without notable performances as well; they shot nearly perfect from free throw line with an outstanding rate and scored heavily in paint with a total of 44 points there. Their three-point shooting was less effective though but still contributed six made shots from distance.

As for individual contributions for UAB, no specific player statistics are provided but it can be inferred that multiple players stepped up given that assists were spread across fourteen occurrences suggesting teamwork played a key role in securing this win for them.

Looking ahead after this nail-biting encounter against Drake Bulldogs at Bartow Arena witnessed by an attendance crowd numbering just under three thousand five hundred fans; The University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers will next face off against UNC Asheville Bulldogs on December 30th at Bartow Arena once again where fans can catch all action live on ESPN+ starting at eight o'clock Eastern Time.