The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
South Alabama
McDonald Shoots Blazers Past South Alabama, 82-76
12/31/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 31, 2004
MOBILE, Ala. - Marvett McDonald tossed in a career-high 21 points and keyed a 12-0 first-half run which got UAB back in the game, then helped them win it, 82-76, at South Alabama New Year's Eve. McDonald scored 10 consecutive points after the Blazers trailed, 40-30, with 2:43 left in the first period. He and Demario Eddins combined for 11-for-12 free-throw shooting down the second-half stretch as UAB pulled away and moved to 9-3 on the year.
"I thought the (late first half) run was created by our bench," UAB head coach Mike Anderson said. "Our bench came in and Ronell Taylor - by himself - was kind of keeping us in it. Then our bench came in and didn't score, but created a tempo that allowed us to chip away and chip away. Then you go back to the guys who started the game and they came in with a sense of urgency."
Ronell Taylor scored 14 for the Blazers while Eddins had 12 and Donell Taylor tacked on 11. Squeaky Johnson scored five points to go with a season-high eight assists and four steals. Former Blazer Jeffrey Collins, in his first year of eligibility after transferring from UAB, had 17 points on five-of-seven three-point shooting for South Alabama. Mario Jointer scored 17 as well for John Pelphrey's club, which lost its fourth in a row.
McDonald's heroics, including a long three-point shot in the first half run, helped UAB even the score at 40 each at the intermission, despite 60.9-percent first-half shooting by South Alabama, including eight-of-12 three-point shooting. USA (3-8) hit its first six three-point shots and built a 16-point lead just nine minutes into the game.
After South Alabama led 30-14 with 11:02 to play, UAB got a lay in by Ronell Taylor and a Johnson three-pointer to begin a comeback. After Brandon Gordon's tip in at the 3:06 mark of the first, the Blazers held USA scoreless and forced three Jaguar turnovers to pull even as McDonald heated up.
A back-and-forth second half wound up in a 67-67 tie with 4:48 remaining. From that point on, UAB held South Alabama to just two field goals as Eddins hit six-of-six charity tosses and McDonald scored five-of-six down the stretch. UAB pulled away and led by nine at 82-73 until a Mario Jointer three-pointer at the buzzer made the final margin closer.
"South Alabama came to play tonight," Anderson said. "It was nothing less than what I expected. You get in-state schools and guys that know each other very well, you're going to get some competitive basketball."
South Alabama still shot 55.8-percent from the floor and hit 13-of-23 three pointers for the game. They out-rebounded UAB, 29-27, but the Blazers forced 24 Jaguar turnovers and shot 13-of-23 (56.5-percent) from the field for the second half. UAB hit seven of 20 from long range and racked up 19 assists.
UAB next hosts Murray State at 3 p.m. CT Sunday afternoon in Bartow Arena. The Racers are the final non-conference foe for the Blazers, who open Conference USA play at home against Southern Miss on Wednesday night.
