TULSA, Okla. -- Rod Rucker scored 17 points, grabbed seven rebounds and UAB nearly blew a 24-point first half lead but held on to beat Tulsa 70-63 on Wednesday night.

The Blazers (10-13, 2-6 C-USA) took a 37-13 lead after Rucker hit a jumper with 4:45 remaining in the first half but Tulsa responded with an 18-6 run to end the half and eventually cut UAB's lead to four in the second half when Pat Swilling Jr. hit a lay-up to make it 56-52 with 9:04.

UAB regained a 10-point lead with a 6-0 run capped off by a Quincy Taylor lay-in, making it 62-52 with 2:57 to go and the Blazers held on from there.

Taylor ended his night with 14 points, six assists and four rebounds.

Rashad Ray scored 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting including a perfect 5 for 5 from the free-throw line and had five steals to lead Tulsa (12-11, 4-5).