UAB Blazers Stun Tulsa Golden Hurricane 68-63 Behind Dayjaun Anderson's 20 Points

The UAB Blazers pulled off a stunning 68-63 upset over the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, with Dayjaun Anderson leading the charge with 20 points and 5 rebounds. This win marked a significant upset, as Tulsa was ranked 46th in the NET rankings, while UAB sat at 127th. The 5-point margin of victory was a far cry from the predicted 18.1-point margin in favor of Tulsa, as UAB outscored the Golden Hurricane 39-34 in the second half.

The game was closely contested from the start, with both teams scoring 29 points in the first half. However, UAB's 39-point second half, led by Anderson's 12 points, was the difference-maker. Tulsa's Tylen Riley had a strong game, scoring 15 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and dishing out 5 assists, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Blazers' balanced attack. UAB's Evan Chatman added 13 points and 13 rebounds, while Daniel Rivera chipped in with 9 points and 7 rebounds. The Golden Hurricane's Miles Barnstable scored 15 points, but Tulsa's offense struggled to find consistency, shooting just 38.5% from the field.

Dayjaun Anderson was the star of the show for UAB, scoring 20 points on 7-12 shooting from the field. Tylen Riley was impressive for Tulsa, scoring 15 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and dishing out 5 assists. Evan Chatman's double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds was also crucial for the Blazers, as they outrebounded the Golden Hurricane 43-38. Tyler Behrend added 10 points and 9 rebounds for Tulsa, but the Golden Hurricane's offense was unable to keep pace with UAB's 42.9% shooting from the field.

UAB's 68 points were fueled by their 42.9% shooting from the field, including 5-15 from three-point range. The Blazers also outrebounded Tulsa 43-38, with Evan Chatman's 13 rebounds leading the way. Tulsa's Tylen Riley had a strong all-around game, scoring 15 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and dishing out 5 assists, but the Golden Hurricane's 38.5% shooting from the field ultimately was their downfall. UAB's 14 turnovers were also a key factor, as the Blazers were able to limit their mistakes and capitalize on Tulsa's 16 turnovers.

The CHD Scout prediction model was way off here, predicting a 88-70 Tulsa win by a margin of 18.1 points. However, UAB had other plans, pulling off the 5-point upset. The model's predicted score and margin were both incorrect, as the Blazers' strong second-half performance and balanced attack was too much for the Golden Hurricane. This loss drops Tulsa's record to 20-6, while UAB improves to 17-9.

This win was a huge boost to UAB's resume, as it marked a Quadrant 1 win for the Blazers. The loss was a Quadrant 3 defeat for Tulsa, which could potentially hurt their NET ranking. UAB's current NET ranking of 127 could see a significant boost, while Tulsa's ranking of 46 may take a hit. The Blazers' quad record now stands at 2-5 in Quadrant 1 games, while Tulsa falls to 3-3 in Quadrant 1 games. This win could also have major implications for UAB's tournament chances, as they look to make a push for the NCAA Tournament.

UAB's next game is scheduled for February 15th against the North Texas Mean Green, while Tulsa will face off against the Memphis Tigers on February 14th. Both teams want to build on this game, with UAB seeking to ride the momentum of their upset win and Tulsa looking to bounce back from the disappointing loss.