The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
10-3
Stephen F. Austin
7-5
Furious Comeback Pushes UAB Past Stephen F. Austin
12/29/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
December 29, 2015
Box Score (PDF) | Postgame Quotes | Photo Gallery
By Steve Irvine, UABSports.com
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The punch that his UAB men's basketball team took at the beginning of Tuesday's non-conference matinee with visiting Stephen F. Austin wasn't exactly unexpected for Blazer head coach Jerod Haase. More importantly, the response during the 76-66 victory over the Lumberjacks was exactly what he expected from his team in the final game before the start of Conference USA play.
"It wasn't a game about Xs and Os," Haase said. "I told the team it was going to be a game about effort, energy, physicality and matching fire with fire. We certainly didn't do that for the first 14 minutes. For the most part after that, I thought we did. I was glad to see that."
The first punch, which was thrown by a Stephen F. Austin team coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, began with three consecutive 3-pointers by Demetrious Floyd. The Lumberjacks (7-5) eventually turned that 9-0 start into a 31-13 lead with six minutes remaining before halftime.
Not much had gone right for the Blazers (10-3) at that point. Not much went wrong for the Blazers for the rest of the first half.
What was the difference?
"We finally decided to sit down and guard, listen to the scouting report and do what we were supposed to do," said UAB guard Robert Brown, who scored 14 points to join Chris Cokley (22 points) as the lone double figure scorers for the Blazers.
The Lumberjacks went the final 5:59 without scoring a point. During that time, they missed all five field goal attempts and committed five turnovers. On the other end, UAB finally heated up. Brown started an 18-0 run with a layup and 3-pointer. Denzell Watts put the final touches on the first half comeback when his 3-pointer from the left wing tied the game at 31 with 40 seconds left before halftime.
"I do think it is the mark of a more experienced team to have adversity like that, be down 18, and then respond to it," Haase said. "A lot of different guys responded in different ways."
Watts, who backs up Nick Norton at point guard, was at the forefront.
"I thought he played a huge role in the whole thing," Haase said. "He's an instrumental part of our team. It wasn't just Nick, it was most of the starting five that didn't have that spark. Denzell certainly did bring a spark, not only making a shot or two, but his energy defensively. I was really proud of how he handled himself."
It still took 20 more minutes to finish off a quality opponent. Haase tipped his cap to another guy off the bench - forward Lewis Sullivan - for finally helping UAB take control in the second half. Sullivan scored all six of his points after halftime. It was his layup that started a 9-0 run that gave the Blazers the lead for good.
"He's always an energy guy, which I love," Haase said. "He was able to get a few shots around the rim. The way they play and they way they pressure allowed Lewis to get a few easy buckets, because he probably drives to the goal better than anyone we have."
UAB took the lead for good on a 3-pointer by Dirk Williams with 6:56 remaining and Brown hit a 15-footer 40 seconds later to build the advantage to 53-50. UAB answered every challenge afterward, largely thanks to some good inside work by Cokley, a timely 3-pointer by Norton and deadly free throw shooting. The Blazers made 12-of-13 free throws in the final 3:39, including nine in a row at one point.
Dominating the paint was a big reason the Blazers outscored the Lumberjacks, 63-35, over the final 26 minutes. UAB won the rebound battle, 44-26, with William Lee grabbing a team-best eight rebounds and Cokley, Brown and Williams each credited with seven.
"There were a few guys who had manly rebounds today," Haase said. "A couple of Tosin's (Mehinti) rebounds were in traffic, through hands and really high level rebounds."
UAB also outscored the Lumberjacks, 36-22, in the paint. Haase said that was more than just strong play from the inside players.
"You have to get through that pressure, get to the paint to get the assists, get the finishes inside and have the advantage in the paint," said Haase. "A lot of teams who play them have trouble getting into the paint. Even though we were bigger than they were inside, there were certainly no guarantees we could do that."
UAB returns to action Sunday at 2 p.m. when the Blazers host Middle Tennessee from Bartow Arena. The game will be televised live on ASN.
The Conference USA Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are set to return to Birmingham for the second consecutive year, marking the third time the Blazers will host the event. The men's tournament, as well as the women's semifinals and championship, will be played at Legacy Arena in downtown Birmingham, while the women's first round and quarterfinal action will take place at UAB's Bartow Arena.
UAB ticket mini plans are now on sale and in high demand. The Conference USA Season Pass is available for $119 in the lower level, (a savings of over $60) and only $79 in the upper level, ($56 off the regular price).
For more information on UAB men's basketball, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_MBB), on Instagram (@blazerhoops) or on Facebook (Facebook.com/UABMensBasketball). For more on all Blazer sports teams follow the official social media accounts of UAB Athletics on Twitter (@UABAthletics), on Facebook (Facebook.com/UAB.Blazers), on Instagram (@uabathletics) or on Snapchat (@uabathletics).
