Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Jamarr Sanders scored a game-high 18 points as he helped lead the UAB Blazers to a 68-55 win over the Houston Cougars in Conference USA play at Hofheinz Pavilion.
Also scoring in double figures for the Blazers (20-7, 10-4, C-USA) were Preston Purifoy and Ovie Soko with 17 points apiece in their second straight win and the fifth in the last six outings. Anthony Criswell made an impact with a game-high 10 rebounds for the visitors.
The Cougars (12-15, 4-10) were led by Maurice McNeil with 14 points and six rebounds, followed by Kendrick Washington who came off the bench to contribute 13 points and a team-high eight boards in the team's fourth consecutive loss and the ninth in the last 10 contests. Zamal Nixon checked in with 11 points and five assists.
Houston led by a basket early in the first half, but the squad shot only 37.0 percent from the field in the period, allowing UAB to claim a 38-24 edge at the break.
In the second half the Cougars again had a tough time shooting the ball with a total of just eight field goals, en route to the 13-point home loss.
The Blazers, who led by as many as 25 points on the evening, were outscored at the charity stripe, 17-3, but still came away with the win.