The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Belmont
Blazers Light Up The Scoreboard
12/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 15, 2004
Box Score | Box Score in PDF Format | Quotes
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Donell Taylor and Marvett McDonald each scored 19 points to lead UAB (5-1) to 107-76 home victory over Belmont in front of 4,243 fans in Bartow Arena Wednesday night. The Blazers blistered their home nets to the tune of 57.8 percent field goal shooting and hit 13-of-27 three-point shots in the victory.
"It was just one of those nights," UAB head coach Mike Anderson said. "We've had games where its been the opposite of that. It was good to see and I think we're a much better shooting team than we've been showing."
Ronell Taylor added 13 points and Demario Eddins had 12 for UAB, which forced 21 Bruin turnovers and out-rebounded Belmont, 41-37. Andrew Preston led the Bruins (2-4) with 19 points to go with seven rebounds.
Ronell Taylor hit a pair of three-point shots early as UAB jumped out to a 13-4 lead at the 17:22 mark of the first half. Belmont, which finished with 14 three point baskets on the night, answered with treys by Adrian Jones and Nick Otis which pulled the Bruins to within three at 24-21 with 10:06 to go in the first frame. Belmont made it 24-23 on a pair of Justin Hare free throws in the first half as well.
UAB's pressure defense and equal-to-task long-range shots pushed the Blazers out by double-figures again. McDonald's first three-point basket of the game came at the 5:29 mark of the first and made it a 12-point game at 38-26. UAB would extend the lead to 61-40 at the break.
The second half saw the Bruins creep to within 10 at 70-60 on a Jese Snyder trifecta. But UAB would add cushion to the lead and never look back.
"I really thought we had quality shots in the first half, but I think our problem was more at the other end of the floor," Bruins head coach Rick Byrd said. "I think they got too easy of shots and they shot the ball much better than they have been."
The 57.8 percent field goal numbers, 107 points and 13 three-pointers were all season-highs for UAB, which rebounded from an 86-73 loss at No. 4 Oklahoma State on Friday. Belmont had its modest two-game win streak snapped with the loss.
The Blazers next travel to Richmond to battle the Spiders on Friday night. The 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT tip will air live on Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast (CSS). Matt Stewart and Sonny Smith have the call. The game will also air live on the Blazer Radio Network heard locally in Birmingham on WYDE, 101.1 FM. Gary Sanders, Matt Coulter and Jon Gentile will have the pregame show beginning 30-mintues prior to tip.
Belmont next hosts Chattanooga at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday in the Curb Event Center in Nashville, Tenn.
