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UAB Holds Off Arizona In NIT Season Tip-Off, 72-71
Nov. 19, 2008
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -Paul Delaney III hit a free throw with .8 seconds left, and UAB defeated Arizona 72-71 on Tuesday night to advance to the semifinals of the NIT Season Tip-Off. "I thought we played well until the last seven minutes of the game," UAB head coach Mike Davis said. "We thought when we went up 13 or 14 points that we would have a chance to put (Arizona) away but they just kept clawing back." The Blazers (3-0) will meet No. 12 Oklahoma, which beat No. 21 Davidson 82-78, in Madison Square Garden next Wednesday, Nov. 26 on ESPN2. The Sooners advanced to the semifinals with an 82-78 win over Davidson. The UAB/Oklahoma contest is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET. The first semifinal (7:00 p.m. ET) will match Boston College against Purdue. "We thought we had a chance to get to New York here tonight," Davis said. "We've got to keep playing strong because there are going to be three more good teams up there." The Blazers were led by senior Robert Vaden, who finished with a team-high 20 points to go along with five rebounds and three assists. Senior forward Lawrence Kinnard finished with 16 points to go along with a team-leading eight rebounds.
Arizona (1-1) staged a valiant rally after the Blazers controlled most of the contest, but lost in stunning fashion. UAB jumped out of the gates and finished the half on a 9-2 run over the last 4:47 to take a 41-31 lead into the locker rooms. The Blazers carried the momentum and began the second half on a 6-2 spurt to combine for a 15-4 run to give UAB its largest lead of the game, 47-33. The Wildcats comeback began when they were down by nine points with 4:39 to play. Arizona used a 11-4 run to get back in the contest and tied it at 70 when freshman Kyle Fogg scored on a putback with 25 seconds to play.
After UAB missed a free throw, Arizona's Nic Wise missed a jumper with three seconds left. Delaney emerged from a scramble and raced toward midcourt for a last-gasp heave. That's when Arizona's Jamelle Horne was called for an intentional foul. Delaney hit one free throw and UAB inbounded the ball to clinch the win. "Our motto was to play tough," Vaden said. "We fell short at some points, especially in the second half, but we kept going and came through. I didn't know if we were going to go into overtime but I guess I was a bit prepared in my mind. I really just wanted Paul to make one of the free throws and he did." The Blazers will have no time to celebrate, as they travel to square off against Old Dominion on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT. The contest will air live on the Blazers Sports Radio Network, WUHT 107.7 FM.
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