Birmingham's UAB Blazers Stun No. 1 Duke 78-72, Reach Sweet 16

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Day.News) — UAB's men's basketball team etched its name in NCAA Tournament history Thursday night, upsetting No. 1 seed Duke 78-72 in the Round of 32 at Legacy Arena. The Blazers, a No. 9 seed out of Birmingham, rallied from a halftime deficit behind 22 points from guard Jamal Brown and 18 rebounds from forward Eric Tate, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015. The victory, first reported by Alabama Daily News, capped a six-game win streak for the Conference USA champs, who entered as 14.5-point underdogs.

Duke, the East Region's top seed and preseason national favorite with 24% of ESPN brackets picking them to win it all, faltered down the stretch. The Blue Devils led 38-34 at halftime but shot just 31% in the second half, plagued by 15 turnovers. UAB's suffocating defense forced nine in the final 10 minutes, while Tate's clutch free throws with 22 seconds left sealed the 78-72 final. Birmingham native and UAB coach Rod Wilkins called it 'the defining moment for Blazer basketball in the Magic City.'

The win sends UAB into unfamiliar territory, facing a Sweet 16 clash against a yet-to-be-determined Elite Eight contender. For Alabama, the upset rivals the Crimson Tide's 2023 run and Auburn's 2019 Final Four magic, boosting local morale amid a state basketball renaissance. Over 12,000 packed Legacy Arena, with Birmingham mayor Randall Woodfin declaring a 'Blazer Day' for Friday. UAB (25-9) now eyes a program-best Elite Eight, carrying the hopes of the Heart of Dixie.