The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
USF
Blazers Edge South Florida in OT Thriller, 78-77
12/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 3, 2008
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- Paul Delaney III hit two free throws with 14.5 seconds left in overtime to give UAB a 78-77 win over USF on Wednesday night. The contest was the Blazers' first home game in seven contests this season (5-2).
"I am very pleased, especially with how this team responded down the stretch," UAB head coach Mike Davis said. "Coming off two tough losses in New York and having to face a very good South Florida team, I knew we were in for a hard-fought game. And that's exactly wast they gave us.
"I thought we kept fighting and never gave up. We are an experienced team with four fifth-year seniors and that really came through. We just have to continue to keep working and keep getting better."
Lawrence Kinnard scored a team-high 20 points and collected a game-high 12 rebounds to lead the Blazers. Kinnard, who is coming off a career-high 29 points in the loss to Boston College last Friday, now has three double-doubles this season
Robert Vaden recorded his first double-double in a UAB uniform, going for 18 points and 10 boards. Delaney finished with 16 points and four steals.
USF (3-2) led a majority of the game and took a 77-75 lead with 3:03 to play in overtime after Jesus Verdejo scored five-straight points. But the Blazers would score the final three points of the game, all on free throws.
UAB pushed the Bulls to overtime thanks to an incredible comeback. The Bulls, who led by eight points at halftime, were up 67-54 with 5:59 to play in the second after Verdejo hit a 3-pointer. However, the Blazers outscored USF 18-5 the rest of the way. Delaney hit a driving lay-up, was fouled and hit the ensuing free throw to tie it at 72 at the end of regulation
Verdejo scored a game-high 26 points, hitting 6-of-12 3-pointers, to lead the Bulls. Dominique Jones added 15 for USF before fouling out in the waning minutes of regulation.
The Blazers sank 20-of-31 free throws, while the Bulls hit 12-of-20. The contest featured five ties and nine lead changes.
The Blazers will now travel to take on another Big East team when they square off against Cincinnati on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT (Noon ET). The contest will be televised on ESPN Plus.
