BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — In a game defined by offensive execution and a standout individual performance, the UAB Blazers used a dominant second half to pull away from the East Carolina Pirates for a 90-83 victory in an American Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Sunday at Bartow Arena.

The game, played before a crowd of 4,123, was a showcase for UAB guard Chance Westry, who orchestrated the Blazers’ attack with a masterful 22-point, 11-assist double-double. His playmaking was the catalyst as UAB improved to 20-11 overall, while East Carolina fell to 11-20.

The contest was a tale of two halves, with the Pirates leveraging their size and offensive rebounding to build a narrow 44-41 lead at the break. East Carolina’s Giovanni Emejuru, a 6-foot-10 center from Leicester, England, was a force inside early, finishing with 15 points and 14 rebounds. His work on the glass helped the Pirates to a staggering 15 offensive rebounds, which kept possessions alive and offset a subpar shooting performance.

UAB, however, emerged from halftime with a decisive adjustment, clamping down defensively and finding a higher offensive gear. The Blazers shot a blistering 54.7% from the field for the game, compared to East Carolina’s 41.1%. The most critical stretch came as UAB transformed its three-point halftime deficit into a commanding lead. A key sequence saw the Blazers capitalize on East Carolina turnovers, with Westry either scoring or assisting on multiple baskets during a run that stretched the advantage.

The most important part of the game was UAB’s sustained efficiency and poise in the second half, which allowed them to steadily dismantle East Carolina’s early strategy. While the Pirates continued to battle on the boards, UAB’s superior shot-making and ball security proved insurmountable. The Blazers committed only seven turnovers and posted an offensive rating of 117.7, a mark that underscored their effective use of possessions.

Westry received ample support. Daniel Rivera, a forward from San Juan, Puerto Rico, matched Westry’s 22 points, adding five rebounds and four assists. Jacob Meyer contributed 18 points and six rebounds, and KyeRon Lindsay-Martin added 12 points and eight boards.

For East Carolina, Demitri Gardner led the scoring with 19 points. Corey Caulker added 13 points and five assists, and Jordan Riley finished with 11 points and nine rebounds. Despite the double-double from Emejuru and a 14-point effort off the bench from Reid Cason, the Pirates could not maintain their first-half momentum against UAB’s offensive onslaught.

The victory completed a regular-season sweep for UAB, which also defeated East Carolina in overtime on Jan. 11. The Blazers closed the game on a strong note, making critical free throws in the final minute to secure the win and cover the pregame spread as a 10.5-point favorite. The combined score of 173 points sailed over the over/under line of 146.5.

The game was a demonstration of UAB’s offensive capabilities when operating at peak efficiency, led by Westry’s command of the floor. For East Carolina, the loss highlighted a season-long struggle to pair its interior tenacity with consistent perimeter scoring and defensive stops against high-level competition.