The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
East Carolina
Millsap Leads UAB Past East Carolina 76-68
1/6/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 6, 2010
Final Stats
UAB-East Carolina box score (PDF)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Elijah Millsap had 25 points and 12 rebounds as UAB defeated East Carolina 76-68 in the Conference USA opener for both teams on Wednesday night. It was the junior guard's conference-leading eighth double-double of the season.
Millsap went 13-for-15 from the free throw line - including 8-for-10 in the final 10 minutes - and was 6-for-16 from the floor to lead the Blazers (13-2, 1-0 C-USA) to their 12th win in 13 games.
"We never want to be disappointed with a win, but we were disappointed in our performance," UAB head coach Mike Davis said. "I thought East Carolina was able to control the tempo of the game for the most part. (East Carolina point guard Brock) Young is a terrific player and did a good job with our pressure. We could never rattle him. In the end, we got a win and we are 1-0 in conference play."
Jamarr Sanders had 16 points, with four 3-pointers, and Aaron Johnson scored 15.
After the Blazers used a 16-4 run to lead 36-33 at halfime, East Carolina (6-9) scored the first six points of the second half. UAB then went on a 19-2 run for a 55-41 margin with 11:03 left.
However, the Pirates (6-9, 0-1) continued to fight back, clawing to within five on several occasions. But the Blazers would connect on 8-of-10 free throws in the final three minutes to secure the victory. UAB was 30-for-39 from the foul line.
The Blazers owned a big advantage on the boards, outrebounding the Pirates by 16, 39-23. UAB also had 15 offensive rebounds, compared to only two offensive boards by ECU, which resulted in a 15-2 advantage in second-chance points.
Brock Young had 17 points and seven assists for the Pirates and now only needs seven assists to become the school's all-time leader.
Darrius Morrow added 15 points, while Jamar Abrams contributed 13 points in the losing effort.UAB will continue conference play when it travels to New Orleans, La. to take on the Tulane Green Wave. The contest will tip at 7 p.m. CT and can be heard live on WUHT, 107.7 FM.
