Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
UAB
Blazers Best @HerdMBB, 72-54
2/22/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Although every active member of the Thundering Herd reached the scoreboard, it wasn't enough as Marshall men's basketball (9-18, 5-9) dropped its second consecutive game at UAB (15-13, 11-4) Saturday evening in Bartow Arena.
The Herd jumped out to a 7-0 lead thanks to buckets by Aleksa Nikolic (Pancevo, Serbia) and JP Kambola (Toronto, Ontario), as well as a Justin Edmonds (Albion, Mich.) triple at 17:18. Marshall held UAB without a field goal (0-of-7) until 15:03 in the first half. However, the Blazers answered with an 8-0 run to take the lead at 11:56.
Marshall's scoring drought lasted until it took back the lead, 9-8, at 11:42. The Herd kept its lead until UAB tied the game at 15 with its first 3-pointer at 8:18. The game tied for the second time at 17 at 6:24, and UAB found its second lead, 19-17, at 5:44. For the second consecutive game, the Herd's leading scorer, Ryan Taylor (Indianapolis) found himself in foul trouble early, picking up his third with 5:35 to play in the half. The Blazers' 10-0 run over 3:32 extended its lead to 25-17 with 3:44 before halftime.
Edmonds stopped the run with his second 3-pointer to cut the deficit to five, down 25-20 at 2:28, but UAB pulled into its largest lead of the half (11) with 43 seconds remaining, 31-20. Milan Mijovic (Belgrade, Serbia) hit a jumper from the elbow to make it 31-22 going into the break.
The Blazers outscored Marshall 10-7 in the first five minutes of the second half to go up, 41-29, and grabbed a lead of 21 (56-35), with 7:32 remaining after an 8-0 run. UAB went up by 21 again with 5:17 on the clock after two free throws by William Lee, and reached a largest lead of 23 at 2:59. The game ended with Marshall on a 9-4 run, but down 72-54.
Cold shooting spurned the Herd, as it went 17-of-59 (28.8 percent) from the field and 4-of-25 (16 percent) from 3-point range. Edmonds was the only Marshall player in double figures with 11 points. Austin Loop (South Webster, Ohio) scored seven points for Marshall, but made just 1-of-7 from the floor and 1-of-6 from 3-point range. UAB got a pair of double-doubles from William Lee (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Chris Coakley (11 points, 13 rebounds).
THE SERIES
UAB now leads the all-time series, 15-6, and has claimed the last five meetings. The Herd's last win against the Blazers came Jan. 11, 2012 - a 61-59 road victory. Marshall is 3-7 when playing in Birmingham.Â
UP NEXT
For its final home weekend, the Herd will host FIU on Thursday, Feb. 26, and Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Feb. 28. Marshall's matchup with the Golden Panthers will be televised by American Sports Network at 8 p.m., and the Herd will take on the Owls at 7 p.m. for Senior Night. For all the latest information about Marshall men's basketball, follow @HerdMBB on Twitter.
---HerdZone.com---
