MANILA, Philippines – Adamson University (AdU) took advantage of an emotionally-drained University of the Philippines (UP) and easily beat them, 74-51, in Thursday’s 73rd UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

Alex Nuyles led the Soaring Falcons with 14 points, 4 rebounds and an assist. They lost to the University of the East (UE) Warriors last Saturday.

UP's line-up was badly depleted since it missed the services of its key players Mark Lopez, Woody Co, Mike Silungan and Alvin Padilla.

Lopez and Co were still injured while Silungan had to rest due to flu.

The Maroons were also reeling from a controversial 59-61 loss to National University (NU) last Sunday which saw Padilla incur a one-game ban for speaking out against the referees.

As a result, UP was only able to register a measly 16-point output in the first half while AdU scored 43.

The Maroons belatedly awakened in the third period to score 19 points and cut the Falcons' lead to 13 points, 58-35.

But UP was outmanned and outgunned in the fourth quarter. These factors, plus AdU’s insurmountable lead, forced the Maroons to surrender.

It was UP's 11th straight loss in the season.

The Falcons improved to 8-3, just a loss behind second-running Ateneo Blue Eagles, who tote an 8-2 card.

The Far Eastern University Tamaraws is in top spot with a 9-1 record.