March 5, 2008

Final Stats

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP)--Robert Vaden hit eight 3-pointers and finished with 26 points to help UAB come from behind to defeat Tulsa 84-70 Wednesday night.

The win clinched second place in Conference USA for the Blazers and the second seed in the upcoming league tournament in Memphis, Tenn.

Vaden has now tied the school record for 20-point games in a season. He matched Andy Kennedy's record of 17, which was set during the 1990-91 campaign. Furthermore, with 135 threes on the year, Vaden needs to make only three more treys to set the Conference USA of 137, currently held by Charlotte's Demon Brown (2002-03).

Lawrence Kinnard scored 15 points and Channing Toney added 13 for UAB. Aaron Johnson had 12 points and seven assists for the Blazers.

Ray Reese scored 19 points for Tulsa and 7-foot center Jerome Jordan had 16 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots. Ben Uzoh added 15 points for the Golden Hurricane.

UAB (22-8, 12-3) won for the seventh time in eight games. Tulsa (16-12, 7-8 CUSA) lost for only the second time in eight games.

Tulsa led 39-36 at halftime, and the game stayed tight deep into the second half.

UAB led 61-60 with 8:29 left in the game, and that's when Vaden took over. He hit four 3-pointers over the next four minutes, some from well beyond the arc.

Vaden's final three gave UAB 77-65 lead with 4:25 left. Tulsa could get no closer than 10 points the rest of the way.

Vaden is averaging 27.5 points over his last four games and has made 31 3-pointers during that stretch.

UAB closed the year with a 14-1 record at home this season.