HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) -Howard Crawford led all scorers with 17 points and Alabama-Birmingham defeated Southern Mississippi 59-54 on Wednesday night.
The Blazers (20-5, 8-3 Conference USA) used an 8-3 run in the final 2 minutes to put the Eagles (15-10, 5-6) away for the fifth straight time and tie Tulsa for third in the conference.
Southern Miss led 22-21 at halftime and there were seven ties in the second half before the Blazers went ahead to stay on a pair of free throws by Crawford that made it 53-51 with 2:41 remaining.
Two more free throws by Crawford, two by Elijah Millsap and one by Aaron Johnson made it 58-51.
UAB shot 15-for-22 on free throws in the second half to Southern Miss' 8-for-13.
Jamarr Sanders added 14 points and Millsap 13 for UAB.
R.L. Horton led Southern Miss with 14 points and scored his 1,000th collegiate point on a 3-point shot to open the game.
