The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Arizona State
UAB Falls Just Short to Arizona State, 69-66
11/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 20, 2010
TEMPE, Ariz. - Ty Abbott hit a 3-pointer with 2.2 seconds left to lift Arizona State to a 69-66 win over UAB in the Sun Devils' home opener Saturday.
Jamarr Sanders had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer for the Blazers (2-1), but his leaning, running 3-pointer fell off to the left as time expired.
"I told the guys we didn't lose this game on the last play," UAB head coach Mike Davis said. "We were up eight midway through the second half and couldn't finish it off. We let them back in the game and when you're playing a well-coached team like Arizona State on their home floor, that's never a good thing. We just need to continue to get better and hopefully we can learn from this."
Cameron Moore scored a game-high 22 points and added 13 rebounds. Both were career highs for the San Antonio, Texas native who recorded his second double-double in as many games. Sanders had 17 for the Blazers, while Aaron Johnson had a career-best 12 assists to go along with six points and four boards in the losing effort.
The Blazers held an eight-point lead, 50-42, with 11:33 remaining before the Sun Devils went on a 10-0 run over the next 2:58 to take a two-point lead.
Arizona State (1-1) led by as many as six, 65-59, in the closing minutes before Johnson capped a furious rally and hit a pair of free throws with 27.9 seconds left to tie the game at 66-66.
UAB (2-1) outrebounded ASU, 37-30, but had 16 turnovers compared to only eight for the Sun Devils. The game featured 12 ties and 13 lead changes.
Trent Lockett had 19 points, Abbott finished with 15 and Kyle Cain added 14 for the Sun Devils.
The Blazers return to Bartow Arena for a Tuesday night contest against instate rival South Alabama. The contest, which tips at 7 p.m., is the only home game UAB will play for the rest of November.
