Blazers Fall to Iowa in Cayman Islands Classic Finale

Wednesday, November 22

Grand Cayman Island

11:00 AM

UAB

3-3

Iowa

4-2

Iowa

UAB

Blazers Fall to Iowa in Cayman Islands Classic Finale

11/22/2017 2:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands – UAB's trip to paradise didn't produce any victories. But, despite the final results, including Wednesday's 95-85 setback to Iowa, UAB head coach Robert Ehsan thinks his team's appearance in the Cayman Island Classic will pay dividends later in the year.

"It's part of the process," said Ehsan. "What it did, is expose some of the things we got to get better at and it will give us a blueprint. The first three games, we played well, but it was at home in Bartow Arena. We shot the basketball, obviously, a whole lot better than we did here. When we start conference, there are going to be games like this night in, night out."

On Wednesday, the Blazers (3-3) received another outstanding performance by senior forward Chris Cokley, who had a team-high 25 points and eight rebounds, and double digit scoring from three other players. But, it was hard to overcome the scoring of Iowa's Jordan Bohannon and Tyler Cook, who combined for 59 points and each set a career high in points, and a huge disparity at the free throw line. The Hawkeyes (4-2) were 27-of-35 from the free throw line and UAB made 16-of-18 free throws.

Just as it was during Tuesday's overtime loss to Buffalo, it was a game of streaks and swings. UAB took its biggest lead of the game with a 12-0 run midway through the first half to take a 31-22 lead. Nate Darling, who struggled offensively in the first two tournament games, had seven points during the run and Nick Norton hit a 3-pointer.

By halftime, though, Iowa had built a 49-37 lead behind a combined 29 first half points by Bohannon and Cook.

Behind Jalen Perry, who had all 13 of his points in the second half, the Blazers chipped away at the lead. Perry's 3-pointer with 13:06 left tied the game at 60. The game stayed close most of the remainder of the way, but UAB was never able to take the lead. The Blazers did move within one possession with 2:00 left when Cokley's two free throws made the score 88-85. UAB never scored again and Iowa was able to get its first tournament win.

"It's been a trend, unfortunately that we've going to have to discuss and fix," Ehsan said. "The Buffalo game and this game, there have been points where we've been up close to double digits and then go down double digits. Not to make excuses, but I thought fatigue and Nick Norton going out, was a factor at the end. I thought Chris played as hard as he could. He was exhausted but he was really playing hard."

Darling ended up with 13 points and three assists, Norton had 10 points and five assists and Bryant had nine points and five assists. Lewis Sullivan came off the bench to contribute nine points and four rebounds. UAB outrebounded a bigger Iowa team, 35-29.

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