BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Derrick Caracter had 20 points and 18 rebounds to lead UTEP to a 74-65 double-overtime victory over No. 25 UAB on Saturday night, snapping the Blazers’ seven-game winning streak.
With the score tied at 58 at the end of regulation, an apparent winning shot by UTEP’s Julyan Stone was nullified when teammate Arnett Moultrie was called for basket interference.
Caracter scored five points to help the Miners outscore the Blazers 11-2 in the second extra period.
Jeremy Williams added 16 points for UTEP (15-5, 6-1 Conference USA) and Randy Culpepper had 14. The win leaves the Miners tied with UAB and Tulsa atop the conference standings.
Kenneth Cooper had 18 points and 12 rebounds, Aaron Johnson scored 15 points and Howard Crawford added 10 for UAB (18-3, 6-1).
There was a scary moment with 2:41 left in regulation when Johnson and Culpepper collided heads and both players fell to the floor. Johnson left the court and did not return. UAB officials said he had a broken nose.
Culpepper was able to stay in the game.
It was UTEP’s first against a ranked opponent since 2001 and its first road win against a Top 25 team since 1993. The Miners came in having lost 13 in a row against ranked opponents.
The Blazers shot only 26 percent from the field in the first half and trailed 33-26 at the break. UTEP shot 48 percent in the first 20 minutes and led by as many as nine late in the half.
The Blazers slowly fought back in the second half, pulling within 1 on back-to-back 3-pointers by Jamarr Sanders before Cooper’s dunk gave them a 48-47 lead with 7 minutes to play.
Christian Polk hit several big shots for UTEP in the second half, including a 3-pointer to tie the game at 58 with 1:35 left in regulation.
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