IRVINE, Calif. – UAB (24-13) fell on the road at UC Irvine in overtime by a score of 81-77. Christian Coleman led the Blazers with 21 points and a career high 14 rebounds.
 
For the final 10 minutes of regulation, the teams remained within one possession of one another, trading leads back-and-forth. With just over one minute remaining, Efrem "Butta" Johnson knocked down a three to make it 67-64 in favor of UAB (24-13), but Myles Che responded with a triple of his own moments later to tie it back up.
 
Yaxel Lendeborg went 2-for-2 from the free throw line on the next possession before a UCI (31-6) bucket tied it right back up with 17 seconds to go. The Blazers were then called for a travel with three seconds remaining, but UCI was unable to score in the final moments to send the game into overtime at 69-69.
 
The Anteaters struck first in OT, but Alejandro Vasquez was able to keep UAB within striking distance. Christian Coleman gave UAB its first lead of overtime with a tip in at the 2:16 mark to make it 75-74. Ja'Borri McGhee hit a jumper with 1:33 remaining to put UAB up by three, but UCI quickly knocked down a three to tie it at 77.
 
Bent Leuchten gave UCI the lead with 31 seconds remaining with a short hook shot in the lane. The Blazers then missed on the ensuing possession, but UCI turned the ball over right away to give UAB another chance. The Blazers were again unable to score, and UCI hit a pair of free throws to ice the game at 81-77.