UAB tops Utah Valley, sets up Conference USA showdown in NIT

 1657831621 
1680051625

UAB's Eric Gaines (4) shoots over Utah Valley's Tim Fuller (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the NIT, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Las Vegas.

John Locher, AP Photo

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Ty Brewer had a career-high 30 points with 12 rebounds and five steals, Eric Gaines scored seven of his 13 points in overtime and UAB beat Utah Valley 88-86 on Tuesday night to set up an all-Conference USA final in the NIT.

UAB (29-9) will face North Texas for the fourth time this season on Thursday for the NIT championship. UAB lost to North Texas twice in the regular season before winning 76-69 on March 10 to advance to its second straight conference tournament championship game.

Gaines scored UAB’s opening five points of overtime and Trey Jemison added a putback for an 81-76 lead. Gaines also made a contested shot in the lane to make it 83-78.

Brewer sank a jumper from the free-throw line to put UAB ahead 85-83 with 46 seconds left. After a timeout, Utah Valley was forced into a contested 3-pointer at the shot-clock buzzer that did not hit the rim. Jordan Walker was fouled and made two free throws for a four-point lead.

After Utah Valley made a 3-pointer with 3.2 seconds left, Walker sank a free throw before missing the second with 0.8 left. The Wolverines’ full-court heave at the buzzer went over the backboard.

Walker finished with 17 points on 5-of-23 shooting for UAB.

UAB scored the opening eight points of the game, with six from Brewer, and led until Utah Valley took its first lead, 62-61, with 8:13 remaining in regulation following a 10-2 run.

Utah Valley guard Trey Woodbury made two free throws with 1:52 left in regulation and he sank a floater in the lane to tie it at 74-all at 33.9. Walker had two chances to break the tie, but he was short on a jumper and his runner bounced off to send it to overtime.

Woodbury and Justin Harmon each scored 16 points for Utah Valley (28-9). Woodbury also had 11 rebounds and six assists. Aziz Bandaogo had 14 points and six rebounds and Tim Fuller, averaging 6.6 points per game, added 14 points and eight boards.

UAB holds WBHM’s broadcast license, but the station’s news and business departments operate independently.

 

Where to start? This week’s new releases are an all-you-can-read buffet

This week, new horror from Silvia Moreno-Garcia, a funny college do-over from Jeneva Rose, and autofiction from Hannah Pittard. Plus, stories about the American South, and a deep dive into the Earth.

More immigration judges are being fired amid Trump’s efforts to speed up deportations

Several more immigration judges have been fired, even as the Trump administration ramps up immigration enforcement, and after Congress gave the Department of Justice $3 billion, in part to hire judges.

Why the health care lobby failed to stop cuts to Medicaid funding

The powerful health industry lobby couldn't persuade GOP lawmakers to oppose big Medicaid cuts in President Trump's tax and spending bill. What's behind the lobbying failure?

South Africa’s president creates commission to look at police corruption allegations

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended the police minister and launched a sweeping inquiry into alleged sabotage at the highest levels of law enforcement..

Wrongly convicted, he became ‘The Jailhouse Lawyer’ — and helped free himself

While serving a life sentence for a murder he was eventually exonerated of committing, Calvin Duncan studied law and helped many wrongfully convicted prisoners. His memoir is The Jailhouse Lawyer.

Through comics, ‘Essex County’ creator shows us the struggles, triumphs of his career

Jeff Lemire explores his career arc, the road to successfully delivering Essex County and other comics to the public, in a new graphic memoir.

More Front Page Coverage