BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Jalen Kitna threw for 341 yards and two touchdowns and UAB held off a late Akron rally to earn a 31-28 victory Saturday night at Protective Stadium.

Solomon Beebe opened the game with a jolt for the Blazers, returning the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. Akron quickly countered as Ben Finley hit Israel Polk on a 75-yard strike, one of two first-quarter TD passes between the pair. Finley finished with 282 yards and two scores on 19-of-35 passing .

UAB steadied itself in the second quarter as Kitna found Amorie Morrison and Corri Milliner for touchdown passes, part of a 17-point frame that gave the Blazers a 31-20 halftime lead. Nate Rogers also added an 8-yard touchdown run .

The Zips chipped away in the fourth quarter, pulling within three on Sean Patrick’s 1-yard scoring plunge with 12:38 left, but the Blazers’ defense clamped down from there, sacking Finley five times and holding Akron on downs on its final two possessions .

Beebe proved to be UAB’s spark throughout the night, piling up 190 all-purpose yards, including 154 on kick returns. Iverson Hooks led the receiving corps with 84 yards on five catches .

UAB (2-1) bounced back from its conference-opening loss, while Akron dropped to 0-3 despite outgaining the Blazers 441-422 in total offense.