Feb. 27, 2008
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UTEP-UAB Box Score (PDF)
Robert Vaden scored 41 points and hit big shot after big shot down the stretch as UAB sent UTEP to its first Conference USA home loss of the season, 88-81, on Wednesday at the Don Haskins Center.
Vaden was 12-for-21 from the field, 9-for-14 from three-point range and 8-for-10 from the line for the Blazers (20-8, 10-3 C-USA), who won for the first time in four trips to El Paso.
UTEP (16-10, 7-6 C-USA) was unable to rally after watching a 70-64 lead turn into a 78-72 deficit off a late 14-2 run by the Blazers. The Miners are 12-2 at home this season, including 6-1 in league play.
The Miners led only once in the first half, 43-42, and trailed 44-43 at the intermission. UTEP's biggest lead was eight points, 64-56, with 8:19 remaining.
"It's difficult to swallow," UTEP coach Tony Barbee said. "We had opportunities. Vaden made some big shots, but that's what big-time players do. The difference wasn't him getting 41 points, because we did a good job on everybody else. The difference was that when they missed shots we couldn't get rebounds."
The Miners were outrebounded 42-34, including 13-8 on the offensive glass, as Reggie Huffman pulled down eight boards for UAB and three Blazers (Frank Holmes, Lawrence Kinnard and Vaden) had six rebounds.
Stefon Jackson scored 23 points on 7-for-19 shooting for the Miners. Randy Culpepper added 15 points and Marvin Kilgore had 13.
Freshman Aaron Johnson was the only other Blazer in double figures with 13 points. Johnson entered the game averaging 4.3 points per game but has been a Miner killer this season, totaling 20 points and 11 assists in two games versus UTEP.
Vaden scored 27 points in the second half, including 18 over the final 7:36.
UTEP outshot UAB 46.6 percent to 43.1 percent and committed only 10 turnovers. The Blazers had a 12-6 edge in second chance points.
The Miners will play back-to-back road games at SMU Saturday and Southern Miss Tuesday. Saturday's game will be televised in El Paso on Time Warner Cable MetroSports Southwest Channel 24 beginning at 6 p.m. MST.
