UAB Basketball Recap: UAB struggles past UCF, 74-64, in overtime

CUSA-fans.com has a new staff of team correspondents this season to help bring you, the fan, more detailed Conference USA sports coverage. Today, our new UAB Correspondent Joe Schillaci, Jr. brings the latest update on the UAB Blazers basketball team.

January 10, 2007

UAB played a sloppy uninspired game for the first 38 minutes, but the Blazers were able to collect a 74-64 overtime win on Wednesday night before a home crowd of 4,817 at Bartow Arena. In the final 2 minutes of regulation play, UAB woke up, found their heart and pride and went to work.

With UCF up by 7 points with 2 minutes to play, UAB went on a run that was aided by Golden Knights’ turnovers and missed free throws. Paul Delaney, III hit a running shot as time expired to tie the game at 57. UAB took command of the game in overtime to win by ten.

Lawrence Kinnard led the Blazers with 21 points. Wen Mukubu and Paul Delaney, III, who had 18 and 14 points, respectively, followed him. Josh Peppers scored 20 to lead UCF. Lavell Payne finished with 14. Jermaine Taylor was kept in check by the Blazers and only scored 5 points in 30 minutes of playing time.

This was not a win where the Blazers were particularly sharp, but in the end it was a much-needed home conference win. For UAB the key to victory the rest of the season is simple: Don’t wait until the last two minutes of regulation to show up and play.

UAB improves to 9-7 overall and evens their conference record at 1-1. The win was the program’s 19 th straight at Bartow Arena. UCF falls to 11-4 overall and 0-1 in C-USA.

Next up for the Blazers is a trip to the "Big Easy" to take on Dave Dickerson’s Tulane Green Wave.