Blazers Fall to North Carolina
Leslie MacDonald scored 24 points to lead #14 North Carolina to a 102-84 win over UAB. UAB stayed competitive for the first half and the start of the second period, but eventually found themselves on the losing end of the score against the national power house as coach Jerod Haase's team faced the cagers of his mentor, NC's Roy Williams.
UAB started slowly, hitting only one of its first seven three-point shots. The lull allowed Carolina to built up a six-point halftime lead. But the Blazers came out stronger to start the second half.
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But North Carolina fought back, holding a 16-point lead - 77-61 - with 8:05 remaining in the game. They maintained that margin for the next four minutes. By the end of the game, they increased it slightly.
UAB had four players in double figures. Jordan Swing led the team with 21 points. Terrence Jones followed with 17, while Robert Williams added 14 and Rod Rucker tossed in 13.
MacDonald's 24 points were the highest total for the game, but two of his North Carolina teammates made major contributions. Reggie Bullock had 17 points and eight rebounds. James Michael McAdoo recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
UAB dropped to 4-4 with the loss as they completed the three-quarters of a four-game road trip. The Blazers travel to Murfeesboro, Tenn., next Wednesday to take on Middle Tennessee State. The team returns to Bartow Arena next Saturday to host South Alabama.