The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
VASDA
UAB Men's Basketball Team Cruises To Exhibition Victory
11/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 15, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Senior Donell Taylor scored a game-high 26 points -- hitting a perfect 12-of-12 from the field -- and twin brother Ronell added 17 as the UAB men's basketball team eased past VASDA USA, 112-89, in exhibition action here Monday.
The Blazers, coming off NCAA Sweet 16 finish a season ago when they shared the Conference USA regular season championship, used a 23-4 run to open the second half and stretch an 11-point halftime cushion to 75-47 just 4:10 into the second half.
UAB's pressure defense was too much for the visiting VASDA team that committed 26 turnovers. The Blazers, who have led the nation in steals each of head coach Mike Anderson¹s first two seasons at UAB, registered 17 steals in the contest.
"We had a much better rhythm than we did against Montevallo," said Anderson. "It was good to see some other guys get in and play some quality minutes. I thought we shot the ball well and I thought our defensive pressure was a lot better this particular game. Overall, I thought our guys gave some pretty good energy, especially coming out in the second half."
The outside shooting of guard Derrick Williams, who played collegiately at nearby Birmingham-Southern, kept VASDA in the game in the first half with nine points, all on three-pointers. Williams finished with 16 points, two less than VASDA leading scorer Terry Horton, an Alabama A&M product.
Donell had 13 points at intermission and equaled that total in the final 20 minutes. Donell and Ronell were among six double figure scorers for the Blazers as Demario Eddins added 14 (also perfect from the field, hitting5-of-5 field goals) and Richard Jones had 13.
"Donell had a phenomenal night," said Anderson. "He had a lot of nice looks and got into the transition game."
Rounding out the double digit scorers for UAB were true freshman Frank Holmes who hit 11 points and pulled down seven rebounds, while junior college transfer Marvett McDonald hit for 10 points while pulling down a team-high eight rebounds from his guard position.
The Blazers shot 57.6 percent from the field as they connected on 49-of-85 field goals. UAB struggled from three-point range, hitting 7-of-24 for 29 percent, and also from the free throw line as the Blazers only converted 7-of-16 attempts.
UAB will open its 2004-05 regular season on Saturday, Nov. 27 when the Blazers play host to Virginia Commonwealth in Bartow Arena (7:30 p.m.).
