The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
NOTEBOOK: Blazers Start C-USA Season With Big Road Win
1/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Steve Irvine, UABSports.com
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Robert Brown was easily the best offensive player on the floor during the first half of UAB's 54-49 Conference USA victory over Middle Tennessee at the Murphy Athletic Center.
The 6-foot-5 junior guard was 5-of-8 from the field, including 1-of-2 on 3-point attempts, and 2-of-3 from the line on his way to 13 points in the first 20 minutes. The second half, however, was a different story. Brown managed just four shot attempts in the second half and failed to score.
But he was far from bothered about the lack of second half scoring, especially when his fingerprints were still all over the big road victory to begin C-USA play.
"At the end of the day, it's just all about winning," Brown said. "I don't have to score in the first half or the second half at all if we can get the win. Whatever the team needs me to do, I'll do for them."
His final stat line shows that Brown had a big hand in the win. In addition to the 13 points, he added six rebounds, two assists and a steal. He also was a big part of a UAB defense that forced 15 turnovers and limited Middle Tennessee to 26.9 percent shooting from the field.
UAB head coach Jerod Haase said Brown's effort was a good indication of what's happening with the Blazers.
"I think the guys on this team are learning to trust each other more and more," Haase said. "As we learn to trust each other more - as time goes on - there is going to be an increased level of playing hard for each other and production from everybody on this team, knowing that the only goal is playing for what's best for this team."
*Freshman forward Chris Cokley stepped up for the Blazers, particularly in the second half when the team was struggling.
"I thought he had an unbelievable game," Haase said. "In the locker room we actually said that, that he was a real difference in the game and he's really close to being even more effective. He's a guy inside who has a chance to really score the basketball. He made a couple free throws, defensively I thought he was really good. I thought he was a big key for us."
The 6-foot-8 Cokley finished with five points, three rebounds and a steal in 17 minutes.
*UAB's playing rotation went nine deep on Sunday with Robert Brown playing a team-high 35 minutes. No one else played more than the 27 minutes that Tosin Mehinti logged in the game.
*UAB managed just six offensive rebounds on Sunday and turned them into just four points. Middle Tennessee, on the other hand, grabbed 15 offensive rebounds but only turned them into 12 points.
*Sunday's win ended a three-game losing streak. The Blazers lost to LSU, Chattanooga and North Carolina since beating UNC Asheville on Dec. 14.
It was also the first time since the 2010-11 season UAB has won its Conference USA opener. The Blazers beat UTEP, 100-97, in triple overtime on a 3-pointer from the right corner by Cameron Moore to begin C-USA play that season.
