UAB Falls to San Francisco in Las Vegas Invitational Championship Game

Friday, November 26

Las Vegas, Nev.

10:30 p.m.

UAB

-52,00 CUSA

San Francisco

8-0,0-0WCC

San Francisco

UAB

UAB Falls to San Francisco in Las Vegas Invitational Championship Game

11/27/2021 2:09:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

LAS VEGAS – The UAB men's basketball team fell 63-61 to San Francisco in the Las Vegas Invitational championship game on Friday night at the Orleans Arena.

After a slow start in the first 20 minutes, the Blazers quickly got right back into the game with a 7-0 run to open the second half. Graduate guard Quan Jackson, who scored all eight of his points in the second half, kickstarted the run with a steal at the midcourt logo before finishing with a slam dunk on the other end.

A pair of free throws from center Trey Jemison and a 3-pointer from guard Jordan Walker trimmed UAB's deficit to 31-27 with 18:36 remaining in the contest. UAB would continue to chip away at the Dons' lead before tying the game at 43-43 with 9:28 left on the clock with a made free throw from Jemison.

UAB (5-2), however, could not pull ahead in the game's final 20 minutes. Made baskets from graduate guard Michael Ertel twice cut the Green and Gold's deficit to one possession in the contest's final minute. A driving layup from Ertel first trimmed San Francisco's lead to two points at 58-56 with 52 seconds remaining. The Indianapolis native then made a second-chance opportunity count when he drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 11 seconds left on the clock.

Ertel missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer in the game's closing seconds, and the attempt was later ruled not a shot due to the ball still being in Ertel's hand.

San Francisco (8-0) remained undefeated behind a standout performance from forward Yauhen Massalski, who finished the game with a game-high 23 points and 13 rebounds. The Minsk, Belarus native scored 10 of his 23 points over the game's final 6:28.

Junior guard Tavin Lovan and the Blazers' defense kept UAB within striking distance at the halftime break. Lovan poured in 10 of his team-high 14 points in the first half, accounting for half of UAB's offensive production in the opening 20 minutes of play. Jemison (11) and Walker (10) rounded out the trio of players to reach double figures for UAB in Friday's championship matchup.

"Tavin Lovan is the greatest teammate on our team," head coach Andy Kennedy said. "I thought in the first half when we were really struggling to score, he was the only guy that could get to a spot.

"I don't care what level it is, but good players always get to their spots."

Despite failing to reach a double-digit steal tally for the first time all season, the Blazers forced the Dons to turn the ball over 23 times. San Francisco, however, lessened the impact of UAB's pressure with a 42-29 advantage on the glass and a 14-3 advantage in second-chance points.

The Blazers will return to Birmingham for a home matchup against ETSU on Wednesday night in Bartow Arena. Wednesday's matchup is set for 6:30 p.m. and will stream live on ESPN+.

MEN'S BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
UAB men's basketball single-game tickets start as low as $12 and can be purchased by clicking here or calling the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1. Season tickets are also still on sale and provide the most cost-effective way to attend games during the 2021-22 men's basketball season with individual season tickets starting as low as $100 within Blaze's Corner. Season ticket holders also have access to the best seating locations in Bartow Arena. You can request more information or purchase by clicking here.

Discounted group tickets and fan experiences are available for a minimum purchase of 15 tickets to any home basketball game during the 2021-22 season. Groups are encouraged to complete the UAB Basketball Group Ticket Request Form or call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office for more information.