The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Cincinnati
Blazers Fall To No. 24 Cincinnati, 72-69
2/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 19, 2005
By JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer
CINCINNATI - Jason Maxiell had 22 points and 11 rebounds Saturday, as No. 24 Cincinnati held off a valiant effort from UAB for a 72-69 victory over the Blazers.
The Bearcats (20-6, 8-4 Conference USA) had a nine-point lead cut to one in the final minute, but Armein Kirkland clinched it by making two free throws with 9.9 seconds to go. UAB's Squeaky Johnson missed the rim with a long 3-pointer just before the buzzer.
UAB (16-9, 6-6) has lost four in a row for the first time since the 2001-02 season. The Blazers forced 22 turnovers and had 11 steals - they lead the country in that category- but struggled at the free throw line for the third straight game, going 10-of-21.
The Bearcats were ill-suited to keep up with UAB's fastbreak offense and full-court pressure defense, with three key players sapped by the flu.
Point guard Chadd Moore sat on the bench in long sleeves with a towel around his neck, feeling chills as he missed his second straight game. Forward James White played with a sagging face and missed a breakaway dunk, but managed 14 points.
Power forward Eric Hicks, the Bearcats' leader the last few games, couldn't jump high enough to make an uncontested dunk during the first half, when he went only 2-of-7 from the field. Hicks, averaging 19.2 points over the last five games, had nine points and 11 rebounds.
Donell Taylor and Marvett McDonald each had 16 points for UAB.
Cincinnati opened the game with a 7-0 run, then struggled against UAB's relentless pressure. The Bearcats shot only 30 percent from the field for the game and matched their season high in turnovers.
Coach Bob Huggins got so enraged by the turnovers that he started benching a player after each one. Point guard Jihad Muhammad had three turnovers in the opening 69 seconds, and got stripped by Johnson for a layup that put UAB ahead 31-26 at the start of the second half, the Blazers' biggest lead.
Cincinnati changed the momentum by dominating the boards and taking the ball inside, forcing the smaller Blazers to foul. Demario Eddins picked up his fourth foul with 14:57 left, when three other UAB players already had three.
Forward Marques Lewis, the Blazers' leading rebounder, crumpled to the court with 7:11 to go and left the game without putting any weight on his left knee, which already was protected by a brace. He didn't return until the final minute.
UAB coach Mike Anderson drew a technical foul for going on the court to argue a call with 6:16 to go. White made the two free throws, giving Cincinnati its biggest lead of the game, 63-54.
Eddins scored the Blazers' next eight points, and McDonald hit a fadeaway bank shot with 50 seconds left that cut it to 68-67. Maxiell hit two free throws, and McDonald made another bank shot with 32 seconds left.
UAB next travels to battle Saint Louis in a 7:10 p.m. CT contest Wednesday night. The game will air live on ESPN Classic. Former UAB head coach and athletic director Gene Bartow will provide color commentary along with former Saint Louis head coach Charlie Spoonhour. Jim Simpson will call the play-by-play for the network.
