The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Florida Atlantic
UAB Downs FAU, 76-43
12/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 22, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Paul Delaney III scored 16 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had six assists to lead UAB to a 76-43 victory over Florida Atlantic on Monday night. All nine Blazers who dressed scored at least three points in the win.
"This was a good victory in many ways," UAB head coach Mike Davis said. "We had a chance to play some guys who needed to get some playing time and also had a chance to give some of our starters a little rest. I thought we came out a little flat to begin the game, but we were able to pick it up and get out to a big lead in the first half. I am happy with our performance tonight."
UAB (8-3) had three other players join Delaney in double figures, with Robert Vaden scoring 12 points and Lawrence Kinnard and Howard Crawford adding 10 apiece. Kinnard also recorded 12 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season and 11th of his career.
The Blazers shot a season-high 53.2 percent from the field and finished with 20 assists. Additionally, UAB outrebounded the Owls, 42-30, and collected nine steals on the night.
Florida Atlantic (4-8) lost for the seventh time in its past eight games. Paul Graham III was the only Owls player to score in double figures with 16 points.
Carlos Monroe, preseason player of the year in the Sun Belt Conference, scored eight points and had eight turnovers. Monroe recently became eligible and was playing in his third game this season.
Leading 15-9 at the 12:44 mark, UAB used a 15-0 run over the next 6:33 to jump out to a 30-9 lead. In fact, Florida Atlantic recorded just six more points over the final 12:44 in the first half and trailed 40-15 at halftime.
The Owls' 43 total points were the lowest the Blazers' allowed since giving up 42 to East Carolina on Jan. 27, 2007. It was also the lowest amount scored by FAU since November of 2000. UAB's defense also held the Owls to just 28.6-percent shooting from the floor and 15.0 percent from beyond the arc (3-of-20).
UAB will next travel to Louisville, Ky. to take on former Conference USA rival Louisville Cardinals on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT (4 p.m. ET). The contest will be televised live to national audience on ESPN2. It will also air live on the home of the Blazers, WUHT-FM, 107.7, with the pregame show beginning at 2:30 p.m. CT.
