BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – McNeese's
Shahada Wells scored 26 of his 36 points in the second half and McNeese handed Alabama-Birmingham its worst home loss under fourth-year head coach Andy Kennedy and worst since a 21-point loss to Temple in November 2013, as the Cowboys dominated the second half on their way to an 81-60 win over the Blazers on Tuesday night.
The win improves McNeese's record to 6-2 overall, the best start through eight games since the 1976-77 season. UAB saw its four-game winning streak halted as it falls to 4-3.
The victory also closed out McNeese's four-game road swing with a 2-2 record as it'll return home on Saturday at 2 against UT Martin.
Playing without starting point guard
Javohn Garcia,
Omar Cooper stepped in and took charge, dishing out a career-high seven assists and scored five points, and turned the ball over twice in 31 minutes of action.
Antavion Collum added 20 points and hit four three-pointers while
Christian Shumate pulled down a career-high 21 rebounds, the fifth-highest amount in school history and the most since Sha'Markus Kennedy grabbed 21 against Central Arkansas in February 2020.
McNeese trailed 31-30 at the half and opened the second half on an 11-4 run in the first 3:31 behind eight straight points scored by Wells.
UAB cut the margin to 42-41 following a three by Daniel Ortiz, but Wells answered with a 2-pointer then a 3 as the lead grew to 47-41 at the 15:32 mark. By this time, Wells had already scored 13 points in the half, three more than he had in the first 20 minutes.
With the score 51-45 with 10:10 on the clock, Collum took a pass from Cooper and dunked the ball to start a 9-0 run that ended with a 3 by Wells to give McNeese its largest lead at 13 points, 58-45, with 8:34 to play.
The Blazers answered with five straight points but a three by Collum ignited a quick 7-0 run that was capped by a highlight reel, fast-break dunk by Shumate who took a backboard pass from Cooper that began with a Shumate steal.
Another jumper by Wells at the 4:03 mark gave the Cowboys their first lead in the 20s at 75-54, then a dunk by
Dionjahe Thomas, who made his season debut after returning from an injury, put McNeese up 77-55 with 3:15 on the clock. Thomas ended the scoring with a layup with 29 seconds to play.
McNeese shot 49 percent for the game (30-61) but lit up the second half by making 20 of 31 shots for 65 percent. The Cowboys were light's out from long range in the second half, knocking down 6 of 8 and finished the game 10 of 19 from behind the arc for 53 percent. McNeese also connected on 11 of 15 at the free throw line for 73 percent.
Ortiz led the Blazers with 20 points and was the only double-figure scorer for his team. UAB made just 30 percent from the field (19-64) and was abysmal from long range, making just 4 of 25.
McNeese held a 41-39 advantage in rebounds against the much bigger UAB squad.
The win gave the Cowboys their third victory over a non-Southland Conference Division I opponent for the season, the most since the 2012-13 season.
Acting head coach
Vernon Hamilton improved to 4-0 at the helm during head coach
Will Wade's 10-game suspension. Wade will made his debut on Dec. 13 at home against Southern Miss.
