The UAB basketball team has been playing it close to the vest this season and their margin for error caught up to them once more.

The Blazers powered ahead for an early lead but could not sustain a defensive presence in an 85-82 loss to former CUSA rival Southern Miss, Friday, Dec. 1, at Bartow Arena in Birmingham.

UAB (4-4) has now lost two straight games at home after winning four straight over Maryland, two-time reigning SWAC champion Alcorn State, Middle Tennessee State and reigning SoCon champion Furman.

“Obviously, disappointing,” UAB head coach Andy Kennedy said. “Our inability — there’s a lot of things. If we could get a little bit better in one or two areas but we don’t defend at all. We came out with a good offensive rhythm, we’re up 15 and moving, but we lose our edge.”

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The Blazers shot 46.4 percent overall, 36.4 percent (8-of-22) from 3-point range and was 22-of-33 at the charity stripe. UAB scored 18 points off nine turnovers and had 13 assists on 26 made baskets.

“I thought we were more aggressive, that’s for sure,” Kennedy said. “We shot 46 percent from the field and made a couple of 3s, but we didn’t make them late. We needed them late. We had some looks we need to make, in order to beat a quality team, and we didn’t make them.”

UAB used a 15-3 run to build a 39-24 lead with 5:50 remaining in the opening half but made only one field goal down the stretch. The Golden Eagles closed the half on an 18-4 run to tie the game at 46-all entering the halftime break.

Defensively, UAB allowed the Golden Eagles to shoot 53.8 percent overall, make 23-of-29 free throw attempts and erase a 15-point late in the first half.

“It’s tough because it’s not just the inability to get a stop,” Kennedy said. “If you’re up 15 and they score, and you score every once and awhile, you look up and it’s still nine, eight, seven or 10, it’s not you’re down three. They took that 15 and got up on us quickly.”

The Blazers were able to power ahead on a 9-2 run midway through the second half, taking a 61-56 lead, but Southern Miss retook the advantage on a 10-0 run. UAB was able to tie the game five times before the final media timeout while going 2-of-13 from the field during a 9:27 stretch that saw the Golden Eagles stay ahead on successful free-throw shooting.

“Teams are coming into our building and getting whatever they want, when they want, because we can’t guard the dribble,” Kennedy said. “We don’t have one guy on our team that can stay in front of the ball. We switch, mix-and-match, but we’re a step slow in every area. To compound that, you miss 11 free throws.”

Alejandro Vasquez scored a career-high 26 points, shooting 50 percent overall (9-of-18) and from 3-point range (5-of-10), and added five rebounds, two assists and a block and a steal. Christian Coleman had a career-high 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting, along with four boards, and Eric Gaines had 13 points, four rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Tony Toney finished with nine points and three rebounds, followed by Daniel Ortiz with eight points, and Javian Davis and Yaxel Lendeborg combined for 12 points and 13 rebounds. Efrem “Butta” Johnson suffered a minor injury late in the McNeese State loss and was held out for precautionary reasons.

The Blazers hit the road to face Arkansas State, Saturday, Dec. 9, at First National Bank Arena in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Tip-off is set for 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+.