The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Miami
Men's Basketball Falls Short to Miami 81-79
11/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 19, 2001
UAB was unable to get a final shot off that could have won the game as Miami was able to hold off the Blazers 81-79 in the Paradise Jam Tournament in St. Thomas of the Virgin Islands.
UAB falls to 1-1 and will play LaSalle, Tuesday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. CST. LaSalle lost to Clemson 81-69.
Mo Finley led UAB with 17 points. Myron Ransom added 16 after taking a shot to the jaw early in the game. He later fouled out, playing just 26 minutes.
Darius Rice led Miami's attack with 23 points. Guard John Salmons scored 20 points with six assists. Marcus Baines scored 19 points.
The Blazers never led in the game, but got the ball with 10.3 seconds remaining in the contest. Guard Eric Bush penetrated the lane and kicked the ball out to P.J. Arnold. However, the Blazers were unable to get the shot off before the buzzer. Arnold finished the game with 15 points.
"We had a chance to tie or win and that is what you work for," Blazer head coach Murry Bartow said. "We didn't want to take a time out. We wanted to get down quickly and set up a play. We got what we wanted except the shot.
"I believe, however, that the possession at the end of the game is no more important that 5 or 6 poor possessions earlier in the game."
The Blazers trailed by as much as 13 points in the first half and at the 14:00 minute mark of the second half. Each time UAB made a run. They cut the margin to five at one point in the second half. Miami led 40-33 at halftime.
In the second half the Blazers trailed 54-41 before coming back again. They eventually cut the lead to one, 67-66 with 5:59 left in the game. Miami got the lead back to seven at 75-68 with 4:51 remaining, but the Blazers rallied again.
"I thought our guys fought and fought the entire game," said Bartow. "Miami's a very good team. We had the chance to win late, but just could not pull it off."
Trailing 80-75 with 1:40 remaining, Mo Finley stole the ball for a layup to cut the margin to three. After Miami missed a shot, UAB got the ball back and cut the margin to one on a Will Campbell layup with 49 seconds remaining.
Arnold fouled the Hurricane's Salmon who made the second of two free throw attempts, setting up UAB final attempt.
The Blazers shot 47.5 percent from the field to 45.5 percent for Miami. UAB also made 9-of-21 three-pointers, but Miami made 11-of-25. The real downfall for UAB was hitting just 14-of-27 free throw attempts. The Hurricanes hit 20-of-30. Miami outrebounded the Blazers 25-20.
