The frontcourt for the UAB basketball team got the job done in the opening game of its Thanksgiving week tournament and the backcourt finished off the expedition by raising a trophy for the first time since the C-USA tournament last season.
The Blazers trailed for less than a minute in the second half in an impressive 87-73 victory over Georgia in the 2022 Sunshine Slam championship game, Tuesday, Nov. 22, at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida.
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UAB (4-1) had four players in double figures and shot 49 percent overall, 25 percent from 3-point range, and was 11-of-12 from the charity stripe. The Blazers forced 15 turnovers, resulting in 23 points, and dominated the final 20 minutes after trailing 42-41 entering the halftime break.
Walker was named the Sunshine Slam MVP, finishing with a game-high 30 points on 11-of-22 shooting, including five 3-pointers, and is now averaging 24.6 ppg on the season. He added 5 assists, 5 steals and 4 rebounds, turned the ball over only 3 times and scored UAB’s final 9 points of the game to produce his second 30-point outing of the year.
Gaines scored only 4 of his 14 points in the second half but had one of his best games of the season in amassing 6 rebounds, 8 assists and a block and a steal. He was pivotal late in the first half, leading the Blazers on an 11-2 run to rally from a 7-point deficit with a little more than four minutes remaining in the opening frame.
KJ Buffen had 11 points and 3 rebounds and was instrumental in a 17-7 run to pull away from the Bulldogs late in the game. He scored 7 straight points during the run and was a driving force in the frontcourt as both he and Trey Jemison were tacked with 3 personal fouls, and Javian Davis was hit with 4 personal fouls. Jemison finished shy of a double-double, producing 9 points and 9 rebounds, and set the tone for the game with 6 points and 4 rebounds in the first four minutes as UAB broke loose from an early 6-all tie.
Ledarrius Brewer finished with 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks, Davis contributed 5 points and 5 rebounds, and Ty Brewer added 6 points and 2 rebounds.
The Blazers return to action against Rhodes College, Saturday, Nov. 26, at Bartow Arena in Birmingham. Tip-off is scheduled for noon on CUSA.TV.