Birmingham's UAB Blazers Stun Gonzaga, Reach NIT Finals

The UAB Blazers men's basketball team etched their name in program history Tuesday night, upsetting Gonzaga 78-72 in the National Invitation Tournament semifinals at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The victory, first reported by Alabama Daily News, propelled the Birmingham-based Blazers into the NIT finals against Utah Valley, marking their first appearance at this stage after going 0-2 in prior semifinals[2]. UAB, now boasting a program-record 29 wins, overcame the Bulldogs' early lead with gritty defense and clutch shooting, silencing doubters after their Conference USA tournament exit to Western Kentucky[3]. Ty Brewer led the charge with a game-high 30 points, tying his career best and earning praise from coach Robert Lockhart as the spark that ignited Birmingham's comeback. The Blazers trailed by 10 at halftime but outscored Gonzaga 46-32 in the second half, holding the nation's top-ranked offense to just 38% shooting. Guards Eric Gaines and Alejandro Vasquez added 18 and 14 points, respectively, while the team's 15-4 run to close the game sealed the stunning win[1][2]. For Alabama basketball, this run represents a resurgence for UAB, drawing massive crowds to Bartow Arena and energizing fans across the state from Mobile to Huntsville. The Blazers finished the regular season 26-6, dominating Conference USA before their postseason surge[3]. With the NIT title game looming, UAB eyes their first postseason trophy since 2015, boosting recruiting in a talent-rich state[2].