TULSA, Okla. (Interstat) — In a gritty, defensive-minded clash that bore little resemblance to their high-scoring meeting just three weeks prior, the UAB Blazers exacted a measure of revenge by grinding out a 68-63 victory over the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in an American Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at the Donald Reynolds Center.

The game, witnessed by 3,361 fans, was defined by tenacious defense, uncharacteristic offensive struggles for the home team, and a pivotal second-half surge by the visitors. The result flipped the script from Jan. 18, when Tulsa ran away with a 99-77 win in Birmingham, and handed the Golden Hurricane just their fifth loss of the season against 20 wins. UAB improved to 16-9.

The contest was an offensive slog from the outset. Both teams shot identically from the field in a first half that ended knotted at 29, but the method was telling. Tulsa, which entered as a 10.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, struggled mightily from beyond the arc, a theme that would plague them throughout the night. The Golden Hurricane also committed 13 turnovers, which UAB converted into 24 critical points. Conversely, the Blazers leveraged a significant advantage in second-chance opportunities, grabbing 11 offensive rebounds to Tulsa’s six.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the second half’s middle stages, turning a tight defensive struggle into a lead UAB would not relinquish. With Tulsa clinging to a narrow edge, UAB unleashed a decisive 14-0 run that shifted the game’s momentum permanently. The surge was fueled by the defensive intensity that defined their night. It began with a Daniel Rivera layup off an assist from Chance Westry. After a Tulsa turnover, Salim London drained a 3-pointer. Following another Golden Hurricane miscue, London converted a layup off a steal. The run was capped by an Evan Chatman 3-pointer, pushing UAB to a 43-31 lead with 14:31 remaining. Tulsa was held scoreless for over five minutes during the stretch, their offensive rhythm completely disrupted by UAB’s active hands and physical play.

Tulsa, to its credit, did not fold. Led by Tylen Riley and Miles Barnstable, who each finished with 15 points, the Golden Hurricane chipped away. A Barnstable 3-pointer with 2:25 left cut the deficit to 54-51, injecting late drama into the building. But UAB answered each time. Dayjaun Anderson, who led all scorers with 20 points, hit a crucial 3-pointer moments later to push the lead back to six. In the final minute, with UAB protecting a five-point lead, the Blazers sealed the game at the free-throw line. Anderson made two with 43 seconds left, and after a Tyler Behrend layup for Tulsa, Chatman sank two more with seven seconds remaining to establish the final margin.

Chatman was instrumental for UAB beyond his 13 points, adding three assists and three blocks while anchoring the interior defense. Rivera contributed nine points, three assists, two blocks and was a force defensively with multiple steals. Westry facilitated the offense with five assists. For Tulsa, Riley added five assists to his 15 points, while Behrend finished with 10 points. The Golden Hurricane’s offensive rating of 90.9 on 69 possessions underscored their struggles, as they shot just 7 of 26 from 3-point range and managed only four assists as a team.

UAB’s victory, secured by outperforming national statistical projections that gave Tulsa a 69% probability to win, was built on defensive pressure and capitalizing on mistakes. The Blazers finished with 10 steals and forced 13 turnovers while committing only six themselves. The 131 total points fell well under the sportsbook over/under line of 160, highlighting the defensive nature of the contest.

The win gives UAB momentum heading into a home game against Tulane on Sunday. Tulsa, which saw a five-game winning streak snapped, will look to regroup quickly as they travel to face Wichita State on Saturday.