USF men’s basketball falls to UAB in second straight conference loss

UAB senior forward Christian Coleman slammed down a monstrous dunk to end the first half of Wednesday night’s game resulting in cries from the home crowd.
That feeling was consistent throughout the game as the Bulls fell to the Blazers 92-83 on their home court at the Yuengling Center.
In front of a packed student section back from winter break, USF’s (9-8, 2-2 AAC) performance was marked as a disappointment, trailing UAB by 20 at the end of the first period.
“Disappointed at the start of the game,” interim head coach Ben Fletcher said after the loss. “I thought we lacked urgency.”
Related: What you missed in USF Athletics over break
The Bulls and the Blazers delivered a tight start to the game marked by high energy defensive plays and offensive bursts.
UAB set the tone early, converting two free throws by Coleman after drawing a foul on the opening possession.
South Florida responded quickly, maintaining a competitive pace throughout the game.
Sophomore guard Jayden Reid ignited the Bulls’ offense with a driving layup two minutes in, bringing the score to 4-2.
However, UAB’s precise shooting, led by pull-up jumpers from junior guard Ja’Borri McGhee, maintained the Blazers’ edge.
USF’s defense fired up the crowd when graduate guard Quincy Ademokoya delivered a striking block, rejecting a driving layup attempt.
Senior forward Jamille Reynolds’ smooth jumper four minutes in narrowed the deficit to two points.
Yet, turnovers hindered USF’s momentum, allowing UAB senior forward Yaxel Lendeborg to capitalize with a tip-in layup and a driving score, widening the gap.
The Bulls’ turnover margin has plagued them this year, as they commit over 12 per game.
They tried to break this consistent error, tying the game at 8-8 after Reid converted a quick steal into points.
However, the depth of the Blazers’ bench shone through.
Senior guards Alejandro Vasquez and Tony Toney provided a spark, with Toney sinking back-to-back three-pointers to extend the Blazers’ lead to 25-14.
Bulls sophomore guard Jimmie Williams countered with a deep three-pointer for USF, injecting hope and forcing a timeout.
While USF had some good moments, constant turnovers and UAB’s efficiency on the glass left the Bulls trailing by a 20-point margin at halftime.
“You can’t make mistakes that we made in the first half,” Fletcher said.
Related: Poor shooting dooms USF women’s basketball in loss versus UAB
USF opened the second half with substitutions, introducing graduate guard Brandon Stroud and freshman guard CJ Brown for fresh energy.
Stroud made an immediate impact by scoring a free throw, followed by Brown capitalizing on a turnover for a fast-break layup.
“In the second half, we wanted to be more assertive,” Fletcher said.
Despite the efforts, UAB responded with sharp shooting on speedy offense, including a pull-up jumper by McGhee to maintain their lead.
Defensive attempts by Jennings kept USF competitive, but the Blazer’s consistency kept the Bulls chasing.
Midway through the second half, Reid’s scoring outburst, including another three-pointer and free throws, gave USF a boost.
The Bulls tightened up defensively, forcing missed shots and collecting rebounds.
Even with the aggressive defense, UAB’s Vasquez and Coleman countered with key buckets, extending the Blazers’ lead.
“So, I was proud of the response in the second half, but, man, that first half, that’s where the game was lost,” Fletcher said on the mistakes made.
USF returns to the Yuengling Center Saturday at 3 p.m. for its matchup against Tulsa. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and on Bulls Unlimited radio.