UAB downs Herd, 75-61

Published 11:04 pm Saturday, February 9, 2013

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Rod Rucker had 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead Alabama-Birmingham to a 75-61 victory over Marshall in a Conference USA game on Saturday afternoon.

Preston Purifoy scored 15 points, Jordan Swing had 13, Robert Williams 12, and Fahro Alihodzic contributed eight points and nine rebounds for Blazers (11-13, 3-6), who have won three of the past four after a six-game losing streak.

UAB outrebounded Marshall 37-29. Marshall averaged 39 boards coming in.

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DeAndre Kane had 23 points, Elijah Pittman scored 15 and Nigel Spikes grabbed 10 rebounds with six points for the Thundering Herd (10-14, 3-6), who have lost five of six.

Leading 19-17 with 9:16 remaining in the first half, UAB scored 13 of the next 15 points, capped by Robert Williams’ 3-pointer, for a 32-19 advantage at 2:26. UAB led 38-25 at the break, and Marshall never got closer than 10 points in the second half.