The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Marshall
UAB Falls to Marshall, 81-74
2/13/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 13, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Tyler Wilkerson scored a career-high 28 points and had 10 rebounds as Marshall defeated UAB 81-74 on Saturday night. The loss, which marked UAB's third over its last four contests, drops the Blazers to 19-5 overall and 7-3 in league play.
"Marshall is a very good basketball team and deserved to win this game," head coach Mike Davis said. "They outplayed us and came more prepared than we were. We kind of played like this was a home game and we were going to win just because it was a home game. Our crowd did everything they could to get us going, but we did nothing to get them going.
"You have to give credit to (Marshall head coach) Donnie Jones and Tyler Wilkerson. Wilkerson was a man tonight in the paint. We cut it to one point but missed some key shots and free throws down the stretch. We have a lot of work left to do, but it's up to us as a staff to do a better job and have our guys prepared."
The Thundering Herd (18-7, 6-4 Conference USA) opened the second half with a 16-6 run to take their biggest lead of the game, 45-32, with 12:56 remaining. Dago Pena had eight points during the run, including a pair of 3-pointers.
A 23-11 run by the Blazers (19-5, 7-3) cut the lead to 56-55 with 7:08 remaining, but Marshall responded with an 8-1 run, capped by a Wilkerson field goal.
The teams combined for 44 fouls and 66 free throws, with Marshall making 30 of 36, including 13-for-15 by Wilkerson.
Damier Pitts added 11 points for Marshall, and Pena and Hassan Whiteside scored 10 apiece.
Howard Crawford scored 16 points and Aaron Johnson collected 14 points and six assists to lead five UAB players in double figures.
UAB will next be in action on Wednesday when it travels to Hattiesburg, Miss. to take on Southern Miss at 7 p.m.
