The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Tulane
Blazers Edged By Tulane
2/8/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Marcus Kinzer scored 10 points in the final three minutes and finished with a career-high 17 points to lead Tulane to a 71-66 victory over UAB here Saturday night.
Tulane (11-10, 4-4 Conference USA) trailed 60-58 when Kinzer scored on a fast-break layup off a UAB turnover to tie it with 2:32 left. Another layup and a short jumper by Kinzer helped Tulane to a 64-63 lead going into the final minute.
UAB (12-7, 4-4) went back in front on a follow shot by Sidney Ball with 54 seconds left. But Tulane's Brandon Spann drove inside for a basket on a goaltending call against UAB's Gabe Kennedy with 27 seconds left.
Spann was fouled on the drive and added a free throw to give Tulane a 67-65 lead.
After Kennedy made one of two free throws for UAB, Kinzer was fouled and hit two free throws with 13 seconds left to expand Tulane's lead to 69-66.
UAB's Morris Finley missed a 3-point shot, but teammate Eric Bush grabbed the rebound and passed to Finley for one last shot. However, Finley stepped on the sideline under heavy defensive pressure from Tulane.
UAB coach Mike Anderson was called for a technical foul, and Kinzer hit two free throws for the final margin.
"Turnovers have really concerned me," UAB head coach Mike Anderson said. "I have emphasized to our players that we have to keep control of the basketball. I think we did things to ourselves that cost us the game. We had Tulane in submission and we allowed them to come back and win the game."
The game was tied 30-30 at halftime and UAB led by as many as eight points early in the second half.
Finley scored 18 points to lead UAB, while Demario Eddins adde 12 points and a career-best nine rebounds.
Tulane, which won its fourth straight game, got 12 points from Waitari Marsh and 10 each from Spann, Brandon Brown and Nick Sinville. Sinville had 15 rebounds for the Green Wave.
The Blazers will look to snap their first two-game losing streak of the season when South Florida comes to Bartow Arena on Wednesday, February 12, with tip off slated for 7 p.m.
