The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
South Florida
UAB Edges South Florida 62-61
1/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 8, 2005
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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Marques Lewis hit a tiebreaking free throw with three seconds to play as UAB beat South Florida 62-61 on Saturday.
Lewis was fouled on an in-close shot with the score tied at 61. After missing his first attempt, Lewis converted the second free throw to give UAB its margin of victory.
South Florida's Terrence Leather missed a desperation three-point shot at the buzzer.
"Any time you play a good defensive team, you have to come up with some turnovers and take advantage of the opportunities they give you," UAB head coach Mike Anderson said. "We got an opportunity or two late in the first half and gave ourselves some cushion. We needed it because they came out and clamped down in the second half. Give them credit. They stepped up the intensity. We were fortunate to come out of it win a win."It was the second straight year UAB handed the Bulls a heartbreaker at the Sun Dome. Last season, Sidney Ball hit a three-pointer with 0.8 seconds left to beat USF at the buzzer, 61-59.
Ronell Taylor scored 17 points for UAB (12-3, 2-0). The Blazers have won six consecutive games, including two straight Conference USA games.
South Florida (8-5, 1-1) got 16 points from both Leather and Brian Swift. The Bulls were looking to win back-to-back conference games for the first time since February 2003.
After trailing by 11 at halftime, South Florida got within 60-57 on James Holmes' three-pointer with four minutes remaining. Holmes then tied it at 60 with another three-pointer with 1:37 left.
UAB's Donell Taylor made a sliding steal of an errant pass with 1:09 to go. He was fouled on the ensuing possession and hit one of two free throws to give UAB a 61-60 lead with 49 seconds left.
South Florida's Collin Dennis knotted it at 61-61 on a free throw with was 10.5 seconds remaining.
Marvett McDonald hit a pair of three-pointers during an 18-6 run over the final five minutes of the first half that put UAB ahead 42-31 at intermission.
UAB forced 19 Bulls turnovers and overcame a second half performance in which it hit just six field goals."Both teams stepped up the intensity in the second half," Anderson said. "We were fortunate to get a couple of key turnovers and hit some free throws in big situations. Donell's steal was a heady play. Marques (Lewis) stepped up and made the free throw. We gutted one out today."
The Blazers return to Bartow Arena for a 7:30 p.m. CT tip Wednesday against Charlotte. The 49ers were picked fourth in the preseason C-USA poll while UAB was picked fifth. The game can be heard live on the Blazer Sports Network in Birmingham on WYDE, 101.1 FM.
