The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
UCF
UAB Gets Past UCF, 63-58
2/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 19, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Aaron Johnson scored 19 points and Ovie Soko had a double-double to lead UAB to a 63-58 win over UCF on Saturday. Soko finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds - six offensive - as the Blazers improve to 19-7 overall and 9-4 in Conference USA.
With the victory, head coach Mike Davis earned his 104th win at UAB, moving him past former coach Murry Bartow in terms of victories. Davis, who is now 104-55 (.654) during five seasons at the helm of the Blazers' men's basketball program.
"I'm proud of our team for the way we fought," Davis said. "You have to give credit to UCF because they never gave up. Even when they were down 10 late in the game, they kept coming at us. We have to finish a little stronger, but we'll take a win like this over a very good team."
The win marks the Blazers' seventh victory over a top-100 team this season.
Senior guard Jamarr Sanders scored 12 points and freshman Preston Purifoy finished with 11.
UAB 13-10 at the 12:05 mark of the first half, but took control on an 18-2 run over the next 7:10 to take its largest lead of the game, 28-15. The Blazers took a 30-20 lead into the locker room.
The Blazers never let the Knights (16-9, 3-9) to close the gap below five points until A.J. Romza's three-pointer with seven seconds remaining. Sanders then sealed the win by knocking down a pair of free throws with six seconds remaining.
UAB has now won four of its last five contests and improved to 12-2 in home contests this season.
The Blazers will have a bye date on Wednesday and will not play again until next Saturday, Feb. 26, when they do battle at Houston. That contest will be televised on CBS College Sports and will tip off at 5 p.m. CT.
