The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
South Alabama
Blazers Top Rivals South Alabama, 90-75
1/3/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan 3, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Gabe Kennedy scored a game-high 19 points, including seven during a key second-half run, to lead UAB to a 90-75 win over South Alabama on Saturday night. The Blazers improve to 7-4 on the campaign, while the Jaguars drop to 5-6 on the season.
"Our first half was the best we have played all season long," UAB head coach Mike Anderson said. "Our guys focused and played with a lot of energy. Mo (Finley) shot the ball well and Squeaky (Johnson) stirred us up on the defensive side. I have been trying to get our guys to play consistently for 40 minutes. We are a totally different team than the team that played Marshall."
Twins Ronell and Donell Taylor scored 11 points apiece, and Mo Finley had 10 for UAB.
Michael Phillips scored 14 points to lead South Alabama. Chris Young added 12 points, Malerick Bedden had 11 and Carlos Smith had 10 for the Jaguars.
It was the 39th meeting between the two in-state rivals, but the first since 1999. For UAB, it was the 800th game in the program's 25-year history.
Both teams played up-tempo, full-court basketball. But UAB took control early, shooting 75 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, en route to a season-high 52 first-half points.
Kennedy powered inside for eight quick points to help UAB take a 23-8 lead. Donell Taylor scored eight consecutive points to help boost the Blazers' lead to 45-22.
The 23-point margin was UAB's biggest of the night, as South Alabama gradually battled back into the game.
A 3-pointer by Smith with 9:23 left in the game pulled the Jaguars to within 69-58. But Kennedy scored seven points over the next few minutes to help put UAB back in charge.
Ronell Taylor finished with seven rebounds, four assists and two steals for UAB. Bedden had seven rebounds and Shane Spencer handed out six assists for South Alabama.
With the win, the Blazers conclude their non-conference schedule. UAB will next travel to Greenville, N.C. to take on the Pirates of East Carolina in the conference-opener for both teams. The Blazers and Pirates will play on Wednesday, Jan. 7, at 7 p.m. EST. The game can be heard on WYDE 101.1 FM with the pregame show beginning at 6:30 EST/5:30 CST.
