King carries Middle Tennessee past UAB in C-USA opener 63-60 (Dec 30, 2017)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) Nick King took over and scored 19 of Middle Tennessee's 21 points in the final 11 minutes of the game and the Blue Raiders knocked off UAB in a battle of Conference USA preseason favorites Saturday, 63-60.
Giddy Potts hit a 3-pointer with 13:19 left to give Middle Tennessee a 42-37 lead and Zack Bryant answered with a 3-point play that got the Blazers within two, 42-40.
And then King took over.
He tied the tied the game twice after UAB grabbed leads, then put the Raiders up for good with a 3-point play that made it 52-49 and closed the game out by scoring the team's final nine straight points.
King was 11 of 16 from the floor and 6-for-6 shooting from the line to score 30 points and Potts finished with 19 for Middle Tennessee (9-4, 1-0).
Bryant finished with 15 points to lead UAB (9-5, 0-1). William Lee added 12 points, and Chris Cokley and Nick Norton each added 11.
