DENTON, Texas -- William Lee scored 19 points and his 3-point play with 5.9 seconds remaining sent UAB past North Texas 54-52 on Thursday night.

Lee drove the lane and muscled in a short shot while drawing a foul on Allante Holston. Ryan Woolridge missed a jumper for North Texas to end the game. Lee also had five blocks and four rebounds.

North Texas led 50-42 with 4:26 to play on J-Mychal Reese's jumper. Denzell Watts responded with a 3-pointer 19 seconds later reducing UAB's deficit to five.

Chris Cokley then scored six straight -- on a tip-in, and two layups -- to put UAB (8-7, 1-1 Conference USA) up 51-50 with 48 seconds left. Reese's 3 with 23 seconds left put UNT up before Lee's heroics.

Cokley shot 6 for 8 and finished with 13 points for the Blazers and Watts had 12.

Reese led North Texas (6-9, 0-3) with 16 points on 7-or-11 shooting and Jeremy Combs had 10 points.