Millsap’s 22 points, 15 rebounds carry UAB past No. 25 Cincinnati, 64-47

Millsap leads UAB past No. 25 Cincinnati, 64-47

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Elijah Millsap had 22 points and 15 rebounds to lead UAB to a 64-47 victory over No. 25 Cincinnati on Wednesday night, the Blazers’ eighth consecutive win.

UAB (9-1) held the Bearcats (6-3) to 32 percent shooting. It was Cincinnati’s second straight loss, following a double-overtime defeat at cross-town rival Xavier on Sunday.

The Bearcats whittled a 15-point halftime deficit down to eight twice in the opening minutes of the second half but trailed by as many as 25 points before a last-minute spurt.

They missed nine straight shots as UAB rattled off a 14-0 run to make it a rout.

Howard Crawford added 14 points and George Drake had 10 for the Blazers, who have won 30 straight home games against nonconference teams and all 23 under coach Mike Davis.

Millsap added four steals, three assists and two blocked shots.

Lance Stephenson, Cincinnati’s leading scorer, fouled out with 4:35 left and had eight points. He missed about 9 minutes of the first half after appearing to hurt his left ankle.

The freshman’s fifth foul came on a technical while protesting a charging call.

Dion Dixon had 13 points — 11 in the second half — and was the Bearcats’ only double-digit scorer.

Cincinnati made only three of 22 3-point attempts and was outrebounded 47-34 after coming in ranked third nationally in rebounding margin.

The Bearcats ran into trouble practically from the opening tip against a team coming off a 12-day break for final exams. UAB didn’t show any rust, scoring 11 of the game’s first 13 points and never allowing any sustained rallies.

Stephenson clutched his lower leg on the baseline after hobbling off the court just over a minute into the game and was helped to the bench, and shortly after that into the locker room. He came back with 10:20 remaining in the first half but attempted only two shots and didn’t score.

The Bearcats trailed 34-19 at halftime after making seven of 26 shots and getting outrebounded 29-14. Millsap and Crawford accounted for 27 UAB points.

Millsap had a putback, steal and fast-break dunk in the final 37 seconds to keep Cincinnati from closing the gap before halftime.

Cincinnati’s first two losses had come in overtime by a combined six points. The Bearcats’ previous low was 59 points against Gonzaga.