The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Rice
UAB Dominates Visiting Rice, 78-40
1/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 24, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Robert Vaden scored 21 points and Paul Delaney III added 18 to UAB to a 78-40 Conference USA victory over Rice on Saturday.
"Rice played hard and ran their game but we overtook them defensively," UAB head coach Mike Davis said. "It is nice to get a win where you can get up 30 or 40 points. I would have been very disappointed if we came out the second half and gave up 40 points like we did against UL-Lafayette."
Howard Crawford collected his first career double-double with 12 points and a career-high 10 rebounds, Lawrence Kinnard scored 15 points and Channing Toney added 10 for the Blazers (13-7, 3-2), who won their third home game this week. Aaron Johnson had five assists and four rebounds with only one turnover off the bench for the Blazers.
Rodney Foster scored 13 points, all in the second half, to lead Rice. The Owls (6-13, 1-4) trailed 37-15 at halftime and never were able to mount a threat in the second half.
Delaney sparked UAB to a 12-0 lead to start the game. Delaney's dunk at the 13:27 mark stretched UAB's advantage to 19-2 and the Blazers never looked back.
UAB pushed its lead to 37-15 at the half, behind a strong defensive effort. As a team, Rice was held to only six field goals and 22.2 percent shooting from the floor.
"Coach (Donnie) Marsh has worked hard defensively with the team," Davis said. "We talked about how effort is the most important thing that you can give in any game. I believe that in the last six games we have played, our effort has been tremendous. We just need to continue the good effort on the defensive end. If you play hard defensively then the shots will fall."
The Owls' offense was stagnant until Foster heated up early in the second half. Foster hit three quick 3-pointers early in the frame, but Rice could never get any closer than 19 points the rest of the game.
The Blazers forced Rice into 15 turnovers for the game which they converted to 24 points. UAB also owned a 16-0 advantage in fast break points.
UAB will next be in action for the first of two important road games beginning on Wednesday, when the Blazers take on Tulsa. The game, which can be heard live on the Blazers ISP Radio Network 107.7 FM WUHT, is set to tip at 7 p.m. CT.
