The UAB Blazers' loss to the Clemson Tigers, 70-52, certainly did not help convince anyone that they were the correct team to make the tournament over the Colorado Buffaloes. The Tigers earned a 12 seed and will face the No. 5 West Virginia Mountaineers in the East region.
Midway through the first half Clemson had a 25-7 lead, outclassing the Blazers. The Blazers narrowed it to a 12-point lead at the end of the first half. However, UAB looked completely out of it late in the second half after their leader, Aaron Johnson, went down with what is reportedly a broken tibia. A Clemson player attempted a layup and wound up kicking Johnson in the process. Johnson then landed on the ground and hurt his leg. Johnson had a game-high six assists, but five of the team's 19 turnovers as well.
The Blazers did shoot well from beyond the arc, with Jamarr Sanders (19 points) and Dexter Fields (12 points) hitting on 9-of-16 shots.
Clemson's Jerai Grant had game-highs with 22 points and eight rebounds. He made 10-of-16 shots to help the Tigers shoot 51 percent from the field. Milton Jennings added 11 points off the bench, while Devin Booker and Tanner Smith each contributed 10. Booker pulled down seven boards and Smith stole the ball four times.
The NCAA Selection Committee certainly doesn't look good after this UAB loss.