The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
North Carolina
UAB Falls To No. 20 North Carolina, 89-58
12/27/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Final Stats (PDF)
Final Stats | USA Today 
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - Marcus Paige scored 16 points to lead No. 20 North Carolina past the UAB men's basketball team, 89-58, on Saturday at the Dean E. Smith Center on the UNC campus.
Kennedy Meeks added 14 points for the Tar Heels (9-3), who never trailed and led by as many as 36 while shooting 50 percent (30-of-60) from the field. Their seven 3-pointers were one shy of a season best. UAB finished just 3-of-25 from 3-point range.
C.J. Washington had 12 points and Robert Brown scored 11 to lead the Blazers (4-9). UAB freshman forward Chris Cokley added 10 points in the loss.
"We have a team that is inexperienced and has not had a lot of tests like this on the road," head coach Jerod Haase said. "It is something we are going to have to learn from and grow from."
The Tar Heels had been off since their 82-74 win over Ohio State a week earlier and were looking to avenge last year's 63-59 loss to the Blazers in Birmingham.
North Carolina took control early after forcing UAB into a rough start as the Blazers hit one bucket during their first 10 possessions.
UNC's Justin Jackson helped break the game open shortly before halftime. North Carolina hit three 3-pointers during a 70-second span after going 1-for-8 from 3-point range to that point. After Jackson hit his two 3s, Paige connected to push the lead into the 20s for the first time at 40-19.
UAB now opens Conference USA action at Middle Tennessee on Sunday, Jan. 4 at 2 p.m. CT.
For more information on the UAB men's basketball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter @UAB_MBB. For more on all Blazer sports teams, follow @UABAthletics.
