The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Houston
UAB Downs Houston, 64-42
1/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan 10, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Donell Taylor scored 15 points and Mo Finley added 10 to lead UAB to a 64-42 win over Houston on Saturday night.
"There was a great crowd with a lot of energy in this building tonight," UAB head coach Mike Anderson said. "I thought that was the best defense we have played all season. I thought we played a good basketball team tonight and are bench gave us a good lift. There were a lot of highlights in this game."
UAB (9-4, 2-0 Conference USA) led 27-19 at halftime and broke the game open after holding Houston scoreless for the first 5:30 of the second half.
Anwar Ferguson scored 10 points to lead Houston (6-6, 0-2). Andre Owens, who entered the game averaging 19.4 points for the Cougars, was held to seven points on 1-of-15 shooting.
More than eight minutes into the game, UAB had a 6-4 lead and it seemed neither team could hit an open shot. UAB coach Mike Anderson used 11 players in the first eight minutes, changing lineups in an effort to find some offense.
Taylor and Brandon Tobias came off the bench to spark the Blazers with two baskets apiece.
Houston seemed to have momentum going into halftime when Bryan Shelton hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer. But the Cougars could not mount a charge in the second half.
Taylor sparked UAB with a 3-pointer and three fastbreak baskets as the Blazers went on to build a 28-point second-half lead.
Taylor and Cardell Johnson led the UAB defense with three steals each, while Demario Eddins grabbed six rebounds. Johnson also added five assists without a turnover.
"You have to give credit to UAB," Houston coach Ray McCallum said. "They ran athletes, after athletes, after athletes, and that really wore us down. Their defense really sped things up and it was a pace we were not accumstomed to. I think they have a terrific team, with great depth and that will make them tough to beat."
The Blazers will enjoy a week off before their next game. UAB will travel to Chicago, Ill. to take on the Blue Demons of DePaul on Saturday, January 17, at 11 a.m. The game will be televised on ESPN Regional and can also be heard on WYDE 101.1 FM.
