Western Kentucky shocks top seed UAB 88-77 in CUSA quarters

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) Fredrick Edmond scored 19 points and Nigel Snipes had 18 and eighth-seeded Western Kentucky shocked Conference USA champion 88-77 on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the league tournament.

Justin Johnson added 14 points and matched his career-high with 15 rebounds for the Hilltoppers (18-15), who play Old Dominion in the semifinals on Friday.

Reggie Brown had 23 points for the Blazers (26-7), the defending tournament champions.

Western Kentucky led 39-28 at the half and pushed it to 21 when Edmond made two free throws with 8:28 to play.

Each time UAB surged, the Hilltoppers answered, thanks to 52 percent (29 of 56) shooting and a 50-28 rebounding advantage. They also went 23 of 33 from the foul line while the Blazers shot 40 percent from the field, including 7 of 32 on 3-pointers, and were just 12 of 20 from the line.