March 19, 2003

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Eric Bush scored three baskets in the final three minutes to lead UAB to an 82-80 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament here Wednesday night.

"I want to thank our fans so much for tonight's game," UAB head coach Mike Anderson said. "You don't know how much the fans got us through the game tonight. It means so much to have a crowd like tonight. Louisiana-Lafayette is a very good basketball team. They had a lay off for a while between games but it is easy to see how they won 20 games this season. There were a lot of heroes tonight but the biggest hero of them all is Eric Bush. He played his heart out tonight."

Gabe Kennedy led UAB (20-12) with 19 points, while Morris Finley added 17 and Bush had 15, seven of which of came in the final 2:52 of regulation.

Brad Boyd scored 26 points to lead Louisiana-Lafayette (20-10). Anthony Johnson added 18 points for the Ragin' Cajuns, while Laurie Bridges had 11 and Michael Southall and Cedric Williams had 10 each.

After a technical foul was called on UAB's Brandon Tobias, Boyd made one of two free throws with 2.8 seconds left to bring Lafayette within two points, 82-80, and the Cajuns got the ball out of bounds. Lafayette tried to pass the ball inside to Southall, but it was knocked away and time ran out.

UAB had a 73-71 lead when the game was delayed for about 10 minutes when Lafayette's Immanuel Washington fell hard to the floor while trying to dunk with 3:17 left in the game. Washington was taken off the floor on a stretcher but was moving his arms and legs.

A foul was called on the play, and the Cajuns' Boyd made two free throws to tie the game 73-73.

But Bush hit a 3-pointer followed by a 2-point jump shot to give UAB a 78-73 lead.

The Cajuns pulled to within 80-79 in the final minute, but another jumper by Bush gave UAB an 82-79 lead with 10.7 seconds left.

Lafayette's Kenneth Lawrence lost control of the ball while trying to shoot a 3-point shot, but UAB's Brandon Tobias was called for a technical foul after both teams scrambled for a loose ball.

Lafayette led by as many as eight points in the first half, but UAB went into halftime with a 38-37 lead.

Three 3-pointers by Finley helped UAB extend its lead early in the second half. But an 11-0 run put Lafayette back in front, and the game stayed tied the rest of the way.

The Blazers will now await to see who they play in the round of 16 of the NIT. UAB will play the winner of the Western Michigan/Siena game. The date, time and site of UAB's next game will be announced at a later date.