The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
LSU
Blazers Downed By LSU, 78-62
12/27/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec 27, 2003
NEW ORLEANS - Jaime Lloreda and Brandon Bass scored 22 points apiece Saturday to help LSU remain unbeaten with a 78-62 victory against UAB in the Sugar Bowl Classic. The Blazers dropped to 6-3 with the loss, while LSU improved to 8-0.
"You have to give credit to LSU," UAB head coach Mike Anderson said. "They are just a better team than us right now. We got within striking distance when we were down by two (50-48), but Gabe (Kennedy) got into foul trouble and that was the turning point in the game."
LSU is 8-0 for the second time in the last 17 seasons. The Tigers snapped UAB's three-game winning streak.
Bass had his highest point total of the season and grabbed 10 rebounds. Lloreda grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds for his third consecutive double-double and fifth in seven games.
The Tigers broke a tie at 12 with a 13-0 run in which Lloreda scored the final eight points.
Lloreda's basket after an offensive rebound gave LSU a 25-12 lead with 10:09 remaining.
UAB's Ronell Taylor scored 10 points to cut LSU's 44-34 halftime lead to 50-48 with 13:50 remaining in the game, but the Tigers pulled away with a 9-0 run over 6 1/2 minutes that included two putback baskets by Darnell Lazare and nine consecutive scoreless possessions by UAB.
Darrel Mitchell scored 12 points and Tack Minor 11, all in the first half, for LSU.
Ronell Taylor led the Blazers (6-3) with 22 points and seven rebounds. Gabe Kennedy scored 13 and Sidney Ball added 12. Ball also had game-highs of three blocked shots and three steals.
The Tigers outshot the Blazers 43 percent to 39 percent from the field. LSU also outscored UAB 23-12 from the line and outrebounded UAB 49-28.
UAB's point total matched its lowest of the season. The Blazers entered the game averaging 80.1 points.
Mississippi State defeated Tulane 72-50 in the first game of the one-day doubleheader.
The Blazers will return to Bartow Arena when they battle Marshall on Tuesday, Dec. 30, at 8 p.m.
