Ertel, UAB Blow Past UTEP 75-62 in C-USA Opener

Thursday, December 30

Bartow Arena

6:30 p.m.

UAB

-113,10 CUSA

UTEP

-76,01 CUSA

UTEP

UAB

Photo by: Ken Shepherd

Ertel, UAB Blow Past UTEP 75-62 in C-USA Opener

12/30/2021 9:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Postgame Press Conference

BIRMINGHAM – Graduate guard Michael Ertel scored a season-high 25 points to lead UAB to a 75-62 victory over UTEP in its Conference USA opener at Bartow Arena. Thursday night's victory not only marked UAB's sixth straight win over the Miners, but it also marked its ninth double-digit victory in Bartow Arena this season.

Ertel, who scored 20+ points for the 26^th time in his collegiate career, tallied 14 of his game-high 25 points in the first half to help the Blazers build a 42-28 lead at the half. After falling behind 10-8 with 13:45 left in the first half, UAB (11-3) never trailed again when Ertel buried his second of four 3-pointers on the night to jumpstart a 14-0 UAB run.

The Blazers expanded their lead to what was then a game-high 20 points after Ertel knocked down a jumper to make it 34-14 Blazers with 5:38 remaining in the first 20 minutes. Ertel and guard Jordan Walker (eight points) helped account for 22 of the Blazers' 42 first-half points in the conference victory.

"Mike shot it without hesitation tonight," head coach Andy Kennedy said. "A lot of times Mike will overthink the game, but tonight he snapped it off 19 times.

"I thought when he had a clean look he let it go, and that's exactly why he's here, to be a playmaker with and without the ball."

Ertel and high-flying dunks from Tavin Lovan powered the Blazers' offense in the final 20 minutes, combining to tally 23 of UAB's 33 second-half points. Lovan, who finished just behind Ertel on the UAB roster with 14 points, tallied 12 of his 14 points on the scoreboard in the second half. The Franklin, Kentucky native threw down three monstrous slam dunks in the final half, including an alley-oop slam from Walker, who finished the game with a team-high four assists.

UAB expanded its lead to a game-high 22 points in the contest's closing minutes when Ertel recorded the Blazers' final bucket of the night. Ertel (25), Lovan (14) and Walker (11) all reached double figures in the victory. Despite entering the game off the bench for the first time in his UAB career, Walker made it 12 out of 13 games that he has reached double figures in scoring in a Blazer uniform.

Souley Boum led UTEP (7-6) in scoring with 20 points, while Jamal Bieniemy recorded a game-high eight assists.

The Blazers outscored the Miners 36-26 in points in the paint, which included eight second-chance points off seven offensive rebounds. KJ Buffen paced the Blazers with six rebounds, while guard Justin Brown and center Trey Jemison each tallied five boards apiece.

Thursday night's victory also moved Kennedy just one win away from win No. 300 of his career. The second-year UAB head coach is now 33-10 since returning to his alma mater this past season.

Kennedy and the Blazers will open the New Year with a New Year's Day matchup against UTSA (6-6) in Bartow Arena. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. and will stream live on CUSA.tv.

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