Birmingham, AL (Sports Network) - Jamarr Sanders exploded for a season-high 37 points as he led the UAB Blazers to a 74-68 win over the Rice Owls in Conference USA play at Bartow Arena.
Sanders finished the contest shooting 11-of-22 from the floor, including 8- of-14 behind the three-point line, as he accounted for half his team's points on the night. Also scoring in double figures for UAB (18-6, 8-3 C-USA) was Ovie Soko with 10 points to go along with nine rebounds. Aaron Johnson handed out a game-high nine assists, but he also turned the ball over eight times in the squad's third straight win.
The Owls (11-13, 3-7) were paced by Arsalan Kazemi with 17 points as he converted a perfect 11-of-11 at the free-throw line in the team's second straight setback. Connor Frizzelle and Tamir Jackson added 14 and 13 points, respectively.
With a perfect 8-of-8 showing at the free-throw line in the first half, Rice was able to move out to a 37-33 advantage at the break.
In the second half both teams made good on 11-of-22 shots from the floor, but with 5-of-11 beyond the arc and 14-of-17 shooting at the charity stripe UAB was able to pull away for the six-point win.
The Blazers outscored Rice beyond the arc by a 36-15 margin.