The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Vaden Being Honored After Stellar Performance Versus Kentucky
12/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 17, 2007
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- UAB junior guard Robert Vaden continues to rack up national awards after his 33-point performance last Saturday that helped the Blazers defeat Kentucky, 79-76. Vaden became the first-ever UAB player to earn a national player of the week award, as he garnered Sporting News and ESPN.com National Player of the Week honors on Monday. He also earned his first Conference USA Player of the Week weekly award.
Vaden recorded 28 of his career-high 33 points in the second half to rally UAB from a 14-point deficit to the come-from-behind road win over the Wildcats. He connected on 10-of-18 shots for the game, including 7-of-11 from behind the arc and recorded a season-best four steals to lead the Blazers to the victory.
With UAB trailing 64-50, Vaden scored 14 straight points propelling UAB on a 16-0 run which gave the Blazers a 66-64 lead with under eight minutes to play. After both teams traded baskets down the stretch, the teams were tied at 74-74 with 1:18 left when Vaden connected on a long 3-pointer that gave the Blazers the lead for good at 77-74. Vaden would close the second half by hitting 8-of-10 shots from the floor and 6-of-7 treys.
He leads UAB and ranks third in C-USA with 19.7 ppg, and is eighth in three-point field goal percentage, connecting on 43.9 percent from beyond the arc (50-of-114).
Vaden is the second UAB player to earn C-USA Player of the Week honors. Sophomore Walter Sharpe shared the award on Dec. 3.
The Blazers will play their next game Saturday with a road game against Wichita State beginning at 7 p.m.
