UAB Ends Cards' MBB Five-Game Winning Streak
July 19, 2000 | Men's Basketball
January 12, 2000
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - It's not hard for Louisville coach Denny Crum to figure out why his 25th-ranked Cardinals can't win on the road. All he has to do is look at his three senior starters.
Tony Williams, Nate Johnson and Dion Edward combined for just five baskets and 12 turnovers Wednesday night in Louisville's 56-50 loss to UAB.
The Cardinals are winless on their opponent's home floors this season.
``Not one of them played at all. I wish I knew why,'' Crum said. ``For whatever reason they have not learned how to handle the pressures of playing on the road. The younger kids, I can understand, but not my seniors.''
Myron Ransom tied his career high with 22 points to lead UAB (8-6, 1-1 Conference USA), which has not lost at home this season.
``It's a good win, but I don't want to overmagnify it,'' said UAB coach Murry Bartow. ``We have been pretty good here in Birmingham this year (6-0) and we are trying really hard to hold it at home.''
That hasn't been a problem for Louisville (10-4, 2-1 Conference USA), which had won five straight and had beaten No. 13 North Carolina and then-No. 18 Utah at home.
But the Cardinals haven't been able to carry it onto the road, where they lost at Virginia Commonwealth, to Xavier at the Great Alaska Shootout and at Kentucky.
``Our play on the road has been pathetic,'' Crum said. ``If they don't get it together, I guess we'll just play good at home and get whipped on the road.''
Louisville shot just 30 percent for the game, 2-of-18 from 3-point range and finished with 26 turnovers.
``We couldn't make unmolested layups, at least seven or eight, and if you can't make layups ...,'' Crum said. ``I've seen seventh and eighth grade girls shoot better than that.''
UAB, meanwhile, avenged last season's 77-68 loss to the Cardinals on its home floor in the semifinals of the Conference USA tournament.
``We needed a win, especially over a Top 25 team, and we had a great deal of respect for Louisville,'' Bartow said. ``But it's just one of many league games.''
UAB, which trailed by as many as nine in the first half and 27-26 at the break, opened the second half with a 7-0 run to take the lead for good. Ransom hit a jumper, made two free throws and a layup to fuel the run, which gave the Blazers a 34-27 lead with 15:21 to play.
Louisville, meanwhile, went the first eight minutes of the second half without making a basket. The Cardinals missed their first nine shots, but made five three throws during the stretch.
Their first basket didn't come until the 13:04 mark, when Reece Gaines' jumper cut the lead to 38-34.
``We shot airballs out there,'' Crum said. ``The only thing we shot well was free throws.''
Louisville was able to cut it to 38-37 on a free throw by Gaines with 11:14 to play, but UAB held off the challenge with a 13-4 run to put the game away. Eric Holmes' driving layup capped the run, giving the Blazers a 51-41 lead with 4:38 to play.
UAB was able to shut down Williams and Johnson, the Cardinals' two leading scorers, who came into the game averaging just over 16 points each.
Williams scored all 10 of his points in the first half. Johnson was 0-for-6 in the first half and finished 1-of-12 for six points. The two combined to go 4-of-25.
Gaines led Louisville with 15 points.
Holmes scored 12 for UAB and David Walker added 10.
