The UTEP men's basketball team had a better start in the second game of the Jacksonville Classic against a strong UAB team , but couldn't keep up in the second half of a 75-59 loss that dropped them to 3-4.

UTEP had several first-half leads, trailed just 37-34 at the half and 45-40 early in the second half, but the Blazers ripped off a 23-8 run to break the game open and go to 6-2.

The culprits were familiar. UTEP shot just 39% which rendered its solid defense moot, was thumped on the boards (46-22) and saw the Blazers shoot 34 free throws to their 15. UAB won points in the paint 40-14.

During UAB's big run, UTEP was 1-of-7 from the field with four turnovers.

The big bright spot was Elijah Jones, who broke out with a career high 21-point game on 9-of-12 shooting. The only other play

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