Jordan Swing scored 19 points and Preston Purifoy hit a go-ahead jumper with 51 seconds remaining as Alabama-Birmingham edged UTEP 61-60 Saturday night.
Purifoy's basket put the Blazers (9-13, 4-5 Conference USA) ahead 61-59. He was also fouled on the play but missed the free throw. Gabriel McCulley got the rebound for UTEP and was fouled but made just 1 of 2 free throws. He had tied the game at 59 on a pair of free throws with 1:02 remaining.
A missed jump shot by Swing with 9 seconds left gave the Miners (10-13, 3-6) one more chance, but Michael Perez's 3-pointer at the buzzer was off the mark.
Purifoy had 12 points for the Blazers, who were 9 for 21 on 3-point attempts. Cameron Moore added 11 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks.
UTEP got 22 points, eight rebounds and four blocks from John Bohannon, and 16 points from Julian Washburn.
