The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Marshall
UAB Holds Off Marshall, 81-78
12/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 4, 2004
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) - Demario Eddins scored a season-high 18 points to lead UAB past Marshall 81-78 Saturday night.
Marvett McDonald added a career-high 15 points for UAB (4-0) and Donell Taylor had 14.
"There's never moral victories in the game of basketball, but what an effort from Marshall tonight," UAB head coach Mike Anderson said. "What a game! I thought the game last year (a 68-66 Marshall win in Birmingham) was a great ballgame, but tonight you saw a little bit of everything. There was good defense, bad defense, some long shots and good shots falling in ... a lot of good plays. I thought it was one of those deals where Marshall played one of their better basketball games, shot the ball well, and we were very fortunate."Tre Whitted scored a career-high 20 points to lead Marshall (1-4). A.W. Hamilton and David Anderson each added 17.
UAB used a full-court press to close an eight-point gap and tie the game at 40 at halftime, then went on an 8-0 run to start the second half.
Marshall closed to 80-78 on a Mark Patton basket with 44 seconds remaining, but the Thundering Herd didn't score again.
A.W. Hamilton missed a 14-foot jumper with two seconds left that would have tied the game. Taylor was fouled after the shot and made a free throw to finish the scoring.
"Our bench came in and played well for us," Anderson said. "(Ernest) Little came in and played well. We were tied at halftime and then came out a different team. They continued to attack us, but I thought we had the game where we wanted it."
Little scored a career-high nine points and grabbed three rebounds while blocking two shots.
The two teams will meet on a regular basis starting next year when Marshall joins the Blazers in Conference USA.
UAB next prepares for their first ranked foe of the 2004-05 season. The Blazers travel to No. 6 Oklahoma State Friday night in a 9 p.m. (CT) contest that will air live on ESPN2. The Cowbys are coming off a final four season while UAB made the 2004 Sweet 16.
