Rucker, UAB Overpowers Navy 82-63
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- Rod Rucker and Fahro Alihodzic scored 16 points each to pace Alabama-Birmingham to an 82-63 nonconference victory over Navy on Sunday.
Rucker also grabbed 13 rebounds for the Blazers (2-1), who outrebounded the Midshipmen 47-27.
UAB never trailed and closed the first half with a 12-0 run over the final 4 minutes. Alihodzic scored 10 of his points in the first half, when the Blazers shot 52.9 percent (18 of 34) to Navy's 30.4 percent (7 of 23).
UAB led 45-25 at halftime. Unlike last Wednesday, when they gave up 17 unanswered points in the second half of a 77-60 loss to Creighton, they never let the Midshipmen (2-2) get closer than 15 points the rest of the way.
Jordan Swing and Preston Purifoy added 12 points each for UAB and Terence Jones had eight assists.
Brandon Venturini scored 13 points and Tilman Dunbar 12 for Navy.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
