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Purifoy, Jones score 17 as UAB uses late 1st-half surge to pull away, beat Northeastern 83-63

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Northeastern's Quincy Ford, left, and UAB's Robert Williams chase a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. UAB won 83-63. (AP Photo/ AL.com, Mark Almond) MAGAZINES OUT (The Associated Press)

Northeastern's Dinko Marshavelski (21) shoots over UAB's Rod Rucker during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. UAB won 83-63. (AP Photo/ AL.com, Mark Almond) MAGAZINES OUT (The Associated Press)

Preston Purifoy and Terence Jones scored 17 points apiece to lead UAB to an 83-63 victory over Northeastern in a nonconference game Saturday.

Jordan Swing added 15 points and seven assists, and Rod Rucker had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Blazers (7-6), who shot 52.7 percent (29 of 55) and made more than half their shots in each half.

The Huskies (5-7) led 15-10 with 13:49 left before halftime, but the Blazers scored the next 12 points and never trailed again.

Purifoy, who began the run with two free throws and a layup, had 11 first-half points, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give UAB a 47-34 lead, its largest to that point.

Northeastern never got closer than nine points the rest of the way. Quincy Ford had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Huskies, and Tuscaloosa native Reggie Spencer added 13 points.