The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Rice
Blazers Battle to Win Over Owls, 74-68
2/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 12, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Jamarr Sanders scored a career-high 37 points and Aaron Johnson became UAB's all-time assists leader as the Blazers defeated Rice 74-68 Saturday night.
Sanders' 37 points were the fifth-most points scored in a game by a Blazer in school history. It also marked the first time a UAB player hit for more than 35 points since Robert Vaden went for 41 points at UTEP on Feb. 27, 2008.
Sanders scored 11 points, including three 3-pointers, during a 16-5 second-half run that gave the Blazers (18-6, 8-3 Conference USA) a 60-54 lead with 7:25 remaining.
Johnson assisted on four baskets during that run and had nine assists for the game, giving the senior guard 604 in his career to pass former UAB great Steve Mitchell on the Blazers' career list. Mitchell is the radio analyst for the Blazer Sports Network and was on the call when Johnson set the new mark.
UAB made 12 baskets in 25 attempts from 3-point range to just 5 of 13 for the Owls (11-13, 3-7). Sanders shot 8 of 14 behind the line and was 11 for 22 overall.
The Blazers jumped out to a quick lead in the opening half but failed to score a field goal in the final 2:54, allowing the Owls to take a 37-33 lead into the lockerrooms. Rice led by as many as six points (42-36) with 15:58 remaining before UAB went on its decisive run.
Ovie Soko, with 10 points, was the only other UAB scorer in double figures.
Arsalan Kazemi scored 17 points, Connor Frizzelle 14 and Tamir Jackson 13 for Rice, which has never beaten UAB in seven meetings.
The Blazers will next travel to do battle with Memphis on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. CT. The contest will be televised to a national audience on CBS College Sports.
