The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Marquette
Blazers Blow By Marquette, 87-69
2/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb 28, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Mo Finley scored 20 points to help UAB overcome a slow start to defeat Marquette 87-69 on Saturday.
Sidney Ball added 12 points and Donell Taylor had 10 for UAB (17-8, 10-4 Conference USA).
Travis Diener scored 17 points to lead Marquette (15-10, 6-8). Scott Merritt added 12 and Terry Sanders had 10 for the Golden eagles.
UAB celebrated the 25th anniversary of its men's basketball program, introducing former players, coaches, managers and trainers in a halftime ceremony. But it looked early like Marquette would be the team celebrating.
Diener, who leads Conference USA in scoring and assists, hit two 3-pointers to help the Golden Eagles to a 14-2 lead in the opening minutes.
But UAB used its trademark depth and pressure defense to come back.
Sparked by their second unit, the Blazers went on an 18-6 run to tie the game 20-all with 4:38 left in the first half.
Marques Lewis scored 6 points inside and Tony Johnson had a steal and dunk to spark the run.
Taylor hit a 3 to make it 23-20, and UAB never trailed again.
"Our defense was the key to the game and our bench played well," Blazer head coach Mike Anderson said. "We were down early in the game and our bench was able to come in a trigger a run for us. I thought our defense was stifling. I always preach defense to our guys and you saw that today."
UAB led 34-28 at halftime, and Finley hit three 3-pointers early in the second half to give the Blazers control. Carldell Johnson had five assists and a career-best six steals on the afternoon.
"Squeaky Johnson is as good an on-ball defender as I've seen in my five years as a head coach," Marquette head coach Tom Crean said. "They (UAB) have a team of great athletes, they play well together, they have great leadership in Mo Finley and an even better leader in Mike Anderson."
The Blazers now look to next Wednesday's C-USA contest at USF (6:00 p.m. CST). The game will be televised by CSS.
