HUNTSVILLE | The University of Alabama in Huntsville men's basketball team picked up a New Year's Eve victory at Kelly Court at Spragins Hall over Christian Brothers by a final score of 72-71 on Saturday in Gulf South Conference action. UAH improves to 12-3 (7-2 GSC), while CBU slides to 2-10 (2-7 GSC).
 
CJ Williamson and Luke Burnett each posted 15 points in the contest to lead the UAH offense, followed by Chaney Johnson at 14 points and Max Shulman with 13 points to give the Chargers four players in double-digit scoring.
 
Johnson notched a team-high six rebounds over 22 minutes on the floor, while Jack Kostel helped guide the UAH offense with a team-best six assists.
 
UAH turned the ball over just seven times in the matchup on Saturday while forcing a total of 24 turnovers for Christian Brothers. The Chargers additionally held the edge over the Bucs in points off turnovers (25-8), points in the paint (32-30) and fast break points (12-0).
 
Overall on Saturday, UAH shot 43.4 percent from the floor (26-60) and 32.1 percent from beyond the arc (9-28).
 
The first half was a back-and-forth affair between the Chargers and Bucs as neither team led by more than five points and the lead changed hands a total of five times in the opening 13 minutes of action.
 
Jack Kostel's first three-pointer of the game with 7:05 remaining in the opening half knotted the game at 27-27, but the Bucs outpaced the Chargers 15-9 to close out the half with a 42-36 lead.
 
A layup by Chaney Johnson with 12:44 remaining in the second half made it a one-point deficit at 55-54, which started a 5-2 run by the Chargers that knotted the game 57-57 with 10:27 remaining.
 
UAH went on to outscore CBU 15-14 over the remainder of the contest to earn the 72-71 victory on Saturday, as Williamson gave the Chargers the win by forcing a turnover with 15 seconds remaining that resulted in two successful free throws.
 
The Chargers are back in action in the New Year on Monday with a 4 p.m. matchup against Union at Kelly Court at Spragins Hall.