The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Tulane
Men's Basketball Defeats Tulane, 80-63
1/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Will Campbell scored a career-high 27 points and completed a "double-double" with 11 rebounds as UAB defeated Tulane 80-63 in Conference USA men's basketball action Saturday evening at Bartow Arena.
The win snapped a four-game losing streak for UAB and ended Tulane's three-game Conference USA road game win streak.
It was the third straight career scoring high for Campbell, who had 19 vs. Houston last Saturday and 20 vs. Memphis earlier this week. He had a double-double with 15 rebounds in the Memphis game.
Campbell finished out an outstanding statistics line by setting new career highs with five assists and six steals, and also had two blocked shots.
UAB (9-11, 2-5 Conference USA) tried to deliver a knockout blow early, starting the game with a 30-8 run over the first 11 minutes that was led by Eric Batchelor, who scored 11 of his 16 points during that stretch, and Campbell, who scored nine.
The Blazers would lead by as many as 24 in the first half, and shot 61 percent overall from the field in the period. UAB led 47-28 at the break.
Tulane (11-7, 3-4 C-USA) stepped up the intensity in the second half, cutting the UAB lead to 12 points at 58-46 with 10:44 remaining in the game on a three-pointer by guard Brandon Spann. Spann scored eight points during that stretch to lead the Green Wave.
UAB shifted gears and gradually built its led back to 20, taking a 73-53 lead on a pair of free throws by Myron Ransom with 4:12 remaining in the game. Tulane never got closer than 16 points down the stretch as the Blazers cruised to the victory.
Campbell was joined in double figures by Batchelor with 16, and Ransom with 10.
Tulane was led by Spann and forward Linton Johnson with 18 points each. Johnson had a "double-double" in the game with 10 rebounds.
After four tough losses - including three on the road - UAB Head Coach Murry Bartow was understandably pleased with his team.
"It was a good win," he said afterward.
"The guys played hard. Great effort. The first half was tremendous. Will Campbell had a great game.
We were able when they cut it to twelve to get it right back to sixteen, which was enough to hold them off. A twelve point, game, a couple of 'twos,' a couple of 'threes,' all of a sudden it's a seven or eight point game and that's a whole different game right there. Fortunately we held them off."
UAB returns to action Tuesday at TCU (tipoff is set for 7:05 pm CST).
