Blazers' Grit Falls Short in a Nail-Biter Against Bulls at Bartow Arena
72-69, the final score at Bartow Arena, reflected a closely contested battle where the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers faced off against the South Florida Bulls. The Blazers now stand with an equal number of victories and defeats, while the Bulls have added another win to their record.
The game was marked by intense competition from start to finish. The University of Alabama at Birmingham showcased resilience after trailing in the first quarter with only 8 points to South Florida's 17. However, they bounced back in the third quarter by putting up an impressive 24 points, outscoring their opponents who managed just 13 points during that period.
The Blazers demonstrated remarkable accuracy from two-point range with a conversion rate of 54 percent and matched their opponents' overall field goal percentage at an even 50 percent. They also edged out South Florida in free throw accuracy by a slim margin, netting 71 percent of their shots from the line compared to South Florida's 69 percent.
Despite being outrebounded by South Florida's total rebound count of 32 to their own tally of 28, UAB made every effort count on both ends of the court. The home team capitalized on turnovers more effectively than their guests, scoring a notable total of 17 points off turnovers while holding them to just eleven.
UAB’s playmakers distributed well throughout the game totaling thirteen assists but were slightly overshadowed by South Florida’s eleven assists which contributed significantly to their victory. Defensively, UAB managed four steals over South Florida's single steal and maintained pressure without recording any blocks or ejections throughout regulation time.
The Blazers showed tenacity inside as they amassed thirty-eight points in paint compared to thirty for USF; however, it wasn't enough as USF pulled ahead with twenty-two fourth-quarter points sealing their win despite UAB’s strong twenty-point response during that same period.
As fans look forward to future matchups for UAB Blazers basketball action will continue when they take on Tulane Green Wave at Devlin Fieldhouse located in New Orleans. This upcoming contest is scheduled for February seventh year two thousand twenty-four starting promptly at six o'clock PM Central Time Zone. Fans eager not miss this event can tune into broadcasts available through local sports networks or attend live if possible given Devlin Fieldhouse's capacity and location within Louisiana state boundaries.