The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Cincinnati
Men's Hoops Falls To Cincinnati, 87-70
3/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 5, 2003
CINCINNATI, Ohio - Leonard Stokes scored 23 points and Armein Kirkland had a career-high 18, leading Cincinnati to a rough-and-tumble 87-70 victory over UAB here Wednesday.
There were several on-court altercations, and three players drew technical fouls as Cincinnati (17-9, 9-6 Conference USA) got its eighth straight win over the Blazers.
"It was a physical game and our guys got flustered at times," UAB head coach Mike Anderson said. "Our guys just tried to keep battling and try to keep within striking distance. This can still be a learning process for me and my guys."
UAB's Morris Finley and Cincinnati's Field Williams tangled and drew technicals in the second half. Cincinnati's Jason Maxiell later threw an arm at Gabe Kennedy after a pileup, and UAB's Brandon Tobias got a technical for swinging at Maxiell during a shouting match with 6:22 left.
Finley scored 24 points for UAB (16-10, 8-7), which couldn't overcome Cincinnati's 14-point run in the second half. Cincinnati was 29-of-33 from the free-throw line, while UAB went 12-of-20.
Cincinnati won the first seven Conference USA regular season titles, but is relegated to trying for the fourth and final first-round bye in its tournament next week in Louisville.
The Bearcats had nine turnovers in the first half alone, one shy of their game average, and had to rely on Stokes for most of its scoring - he had 14 in the half.
Kirkland had a putback and a jump shot, and Cincinnati made all of its eight free throws during a 14-point spurt that pushed the lead to 71-53 with 6:45 left.
The Blazers will next play their final home game of the season when they play host to No. 24 Memphis on Saturday, March 8th, at 1 p.m. CST. Eric Bush and Cedric Davis will each be playing their home finale.
The game can be heard on AM 1070 WAPI with the pregame show beginning at 12:30 p.m. The game will also be televised on ESPN regional.
