BIRMINGHAM, Ala. » Jarell Martin and Keith Hornsby combined to score 49 points to help LSU overcome an early 11-point deficit and defeat UAB 79-70 Thursday night.

Martin scored 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting and Hornsby added 24 points. They combined to score 16 points in the first 8 1/2 minutes of the second half, as the Tigers roared back after trailing 39-33 at halftime.

Jordan Mickey added 13 points and eight rebounds and blocked seven shots for the Tigers (8-2), who won their fourth consecutive game.

UAB made three 3-pointers in the first five minutes to jump out to a 17-6 lead. The Blazers (4-7) remained in front for the rest of the half, using a 3-pointer by Robert Brown to take a 39-33 halftime lead.

LSU scored six straight points to open the second half, tying the game at 39. Moments later, a 3-pointer by Jalyn Patterson gave the Tigers their first lead since the opening minute at 44-42.

LSU quickly pulled away from there, using an 11-2 run in less than three minutes to build a 60-51 lead.

UAB closed the gap to 65-62 with six minutes left, but the Tigers used back-to-back fast-break baskets as part of a 10-3 run to increase their advantage to 75-65.

The Blazers, who lost for the fifth time in seven games, made one more shot from the field and two more 3-pointers than LSU. But the Tigers were 16-of-18 at the foul line, compared to only 3-of-4 for UAB.

Robert Brown led the Blazers with 20 points and five assists.

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TIP-INS

LSU: Jordan Mickey failed to reach double figures in rebounds for only the fourth time in nine games. He is averaging 9.9 rebounds per game. The Tigers made 56.7 percent of their shots in the second half (17-of-30).

UAB: Freshman William Lee, the Alabama high school player of the year in 2013-14, had 13 points and five rebounds in his second start of the season. After pulling to within 65-62 late in the second half, the Blazers made only one shot over the next 5 1/2 minutes.

UP NEXT

LSU hosts Charleston on Monday.
UAB visits Chattanooga on Monday.