GREENVILLE, N.C. (Interstat) — Jacob Meyer scored 29 points to lift UAB to an 87-85 overtime win over East Carolina in an American Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Sunday at Williams Arena. The Blazers (11-6) survived a late rally by the Pirates (5-11), who erased a second-half deficit to force the extra period. UAB outscored East Carolina 8-6 in overtime. East Carolina’s Jordan Riley posted a game-high 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. KyeRon Lindsay-Martin added 20 points for UAB, which was projected as a heavy favorite. The teams combined for 172 points in a game that far exceeded the pregame over/under line of 145.5. Attendance was 3,296.

GREENVILLE, N.C. (Interstat) — In a game defined by relentless defensive pressure and a dramatic final-minute collapse, the UAB Blazers escaped Williams Arena with an 87-85 overtime victory over the East Carolina Pirates in an American Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Sunday. The contest, played before an announced crowd of 3,296, was a tale of two star performances and a staggering discrepancy in ball security that ultimately decided the outcome. UAB’s Jacob Meyer scored 29 points, while East Carolina’s Jordan Riley poured in a game-high 30, but the Pirates’ 17 turnovers, compared to just eight for the Blazers, proved insurmountable. UAB converted those miscues into 14 points and added 21 fastbreak points to fuel its attack. The most critical sequence unfolded in the final minute of regulation with East Carolina clinging to a 79-76 lead. After a UAB timeout with 44 seconds left, the Blazers’ Daniel Rivera scored on a layup to cut the deficit to one. On the ensuing possession, the Pirates’ Isaiah Mbeng drove the lane, but his layup attempt was emphatically blocked by UAB’s KyeRon Lindsay-Martin. East Carolina retained possession but Jordan Riley’s pull-up jumper missed, leading to a scramble for the offensive rebound. Giovanni Emejuru was fouled on the putback attempt and made the first of two free throws with 25 seconds remaining, pushing the lead to 80-78. He missed the second, and UAB secured the rebound. With the clock winding down, UAB’s Chance Westry drove hard to the basket, but his potential game-tying layup was swatted away by East Carolina’s Reid Cason. The ball went out of bounds to the Blazers with just 0.8 seconds left. On the inbounds play, Salim London found a cutting Daniel Rivera for a layup at the buzzer, sending the game to overtime tied at 80. The play capped a furious UAB rally and silenced the home crowd. The overtime period was a tense, back-and-forth affair. East Carolina struck first on a dunk from Emejuru, but UAB responded with five straight points, including a critical pull-up jumper from Meyer with 16 seconds left that gave the Blazers an 87-85 lead. East Carolina had the final possession, but Riley’s contested pull-up jumper over Meyer missed its mark as time expired. UAB improved to 11-6 overall and 2-2 in conference play, while East Carolina fell to 5-11 and 0-4. Beyond the late-game drama, the statistical sheet painted a clear picture of UAB’s path to victory. The Blazers dominated the assist column 11-3 and recorded 11 steals to the Pirates’ three, a direct reflection of their disruptive defense. While East Carolina’s interior defense was formidable, recording seven blocks led by Reid Cason’s five, UAB consistently attacked the paint, scoring 46 points inside. Meyer’s 29-point effort on 12-of-24 shooting led UAB, bouncing back from a two-point performance in his previous game. He was supported by Lindsay-Martin, who added 20 points and seven rebounds off the bench. For East Carolina, Riley’s 30-point, 10-rebound double-double was complemented by double-doubles from both Emejuru (12 points, 12 rebounds) and Cason (12 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks). Mbeng facilitated the offense with nine assists but also committed five of his team’s 17 turnovers. The first half set the tone for a physical battle, with UAB taking a narrow 39-37 lead into halftime. The second half saw 10 lead changes as neither team could build a cushion larger than six points, setting the stage for the frantic finish. UAB next travels to face Tulane on Wednesday. East Carolina looks for its first conference win Wednesday at South Florida.

GREENVILLE, N.C. (Interstat) — The UAB Blazers look to rebound from a tough home loss when they visit the struggling East Carolina Pirates in an American Athletic Conference men’s basketball matchup Sunday at Williams Arena. UAB (10-6, 1-2 AAC) enters after a 76-71 defeat to Florida Atlantic on Wednesday halted a two-game win streak. The Blazers’ offense has been potent, averaging 86 points over their last five games, including a 109-106 double-overtime win at South Florida on Jan. 4. Their success often hinges on the play of guard Chance Westry, who is coming off a 31-point effort against FAU and has scored 24 or more three times in his last six outings. East Carolina (5-10, 0-3), meanwhile, seeks its first conference victory amid a four-game skid. The Pirates fell 75-67 at Temple on Wednesday despite a 29-point performance from guard Jordan Riley. Riley has been a consistent bright spot, scoring 21 or more in four of the last five games, including a 31-point, 8-rebound effort in a win over Buffalo on Dec. 14. The Pirates have struggled defensively, allowing an average of 80.2 points during their losing streak. Containing UAB’s up-tempo attack, led by Westry, will be a primary challenge. UAB has shown its own defensive vulnerabilities, particularly in close losses to Troy and Wichita State last month. This game presents a contrast in trajectories. UAB aims to solidify its position in the upper half of the AAC standings, while East Carolina desperately needs a momentum-shifting win at home to salvage its season’s direction. The Blazers won both meetings last season. Sunday’s contest tips off at 2 p.m. EST. Following this game, UAB travels to face Tulane on Jan. 14, while East Carolina visits South Florida on the same date.