GoPowercat.com - Eagles fall to UAB

January 17, 2008

USM Media Relations
BigGoldNation.com

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Robert Vaden tied a career-high with 33 points, as Southern Miss fell to UAB, 72-65, Wednesday night at Bartow Arena.

Courtney Beasley led the way for the Golden Eagles (9-8, 1-2 C-USA), who shot 47.4% (27-57) on the night. Jeremy Wise added 18 points for Southern Miss.

Vaden, who also had 33 points against Kentucky earlier this year, was 9-of-18 from the floor, including 6-12 from three-point range.

The game began with each team unable to score a point, as the game remained scoreless for the first three minutes before UAB's Robert Vaden hit lay-up to break the scoreless tie. Southern Miss missed nine of its first ten shots, before trading baskets over the next five minutes, with Southern Miss pulling to within 14-11. However, the Blazers went on a 16-4 run, before entering the half up 30-18.

The Golden Eagles came out in the second half and traded baskets with UAB (12-5, 2-0 C-USA), three times pulling within seven points. However, with 12:47 to go, the Blazers began to extend its lead, taking its biggest advantage of the game (61-45) with 6:04 to play.

But the Golden Eagles would not go away. R.L. Horton and Craig Craft hit back-to-back three-pointers to get the deficit under ten. But UAB hit 9-of-10 free throws to close the game. Southern Miss shot 61.3% (19-of-31) in the second half.

Southern Miss hurt themselves at the free throw line, hitting 7-of-15 (46.7%) free throws, while the Blazers shot 78.9% (15-of-19) from the charity stripe.

Gjio Bain grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Golden Eagles on the boards, while Wise and Craft added five apiece. Frank Holmes scored ten points for the Blazers.

Southern Miss continues its road trip this weekend. The Golden Eagles will take to Memphis, Tenn. to face second-ranked Memphis on Saturday, January 19, at 8:00 p.m. at FedEx Forum. The game will be televised on CSS.

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