Jan. 31, 2007
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Bamba Fall scored 16 points and Brian Epps added 14 to lead SMU to a 60-56 victory over UAB Wednesday night.
"Bamba is getting so much better," says head coach Matt Doherty. "Our assistant coaches have been working with him on post moves; trying to go to the jump-hook Teaching him not put the ball on the floor as much."
Ike Ofoegbu scored 10 points and hit a 3-pointer to spark a 16-2 second half run that proved decisive for SMU. The Mustangs (13-8, 2-5 CUSA) trailed 27-26 at halftime.
Wen Mukubu scored 14 points to lead UAB (11-10, 3-4). Lawrence Kinnard added 12 points and Mike Davis Jr. had 10 for the Blazers. UAB lost its second game in a row at home.
A 3-pointer by Mukubu gave UAB a 45-41 lead with just over 11 minutes left in the game. But a basket inside by Donatas Rackauskas and a 3-pointer by Epps started the run that put SMU ahead for good.
Epps' driving basket gave SMU a 57-47 lead with five minutes left.
"Epps has given us such a punch off the bench," said Doherty. "I have a lot of confidence in him."
UAB had chances down the stretch, pulling to within 59-56 on a reverse layup by Davis Jr. with less than a minute to play. But UAB struggled all night to get good shots against SMU's zone defense and could not make another basket.
The Mustangs also limited their turnovers to five in the second half and outscored UAB 20-11 in points off turnovers for the game.
"We did a good job of cutting down on turnovers in the second half," stated Doherty. "We had eight turnovers in the first half, but only five in the second half. We have talked about turnovers, and maybe we turned the corner a little bit tonight."
The Mustangs next game is at 11th-ranked Memphis on Saturday at 11 a.m. The game is on KAAM 770 AM and nationally-televised on ESPN.
NOTE: Bamba Fall had three blocks and now has 59 blocks on the season. He ties Reggie Franklin for fifth-most in a season at SMU. (Reggie Franklin had 59 in 1977-78)
