LOUISVILLE, Ky. - UAB held off a second-half Saint Louis rally to eliminate the Billikens 63-62 in a Conference USA semifinal game tonight at Freedom Hall. Blazers guard Eric Bush scored on a driving lay-up with 13 seconds remaining for the winner, and UAB survived two game-winning attempts from Billikens guard Marque Perry to advance to Saturday's title game with Louisville.
"We gave a great effort in the second half to come back, but I just wish we had played better basketball in the first half," said Billikens head coach Brad Soderberg.
Playing its best basketball of the season, UAB scored the first six points of the game and led 13-9 at the 13:28 mark when the Blazers went on a 21-6 run to seemingly take command. The Blazers streaked to a 34-18 lead at the break on 51.9 percent shooting. The Bills helped UAB by committing an uncharacteristic nine turnovers in the first half.
UAB's hot shooting continued at the beginning of the second half as the Blazers built their lead to 44-22. But a careless turnover when the Blazers botched a lob play off a 3-on-1 situation started Saint Louis on its way back. Bills center Kenny Brown dunked an offensive rebound to give the Bills some life.
Playing its third game in three days, UAB appeared to tire and the shots stopped falling. Saint Louis switched to a 2-3 zone and began to run and press the attack off UAB's misses. SLU freshman Anthony Drejaj buried a 10-foot baseline jumper to cap an 8-0 SLU run, and the Bills trailed 44-30 with 14:46 to play.
"We had to go to the zone, because we just couldn't guard them off the dribble," Soderberg said. "Our whole winning streak has been built on our man-to-man defense, so it was disappointing that it failed us today."
Bills junior guard Josh Fisher buried two treys to spark a 15-6 rally, and the Billikens trailed 50-45 with 8:40 left. Perry began his assault alternately draining jumpers and slashing to the rim and finally tied the game at 61 with a traditional three-point play at the 1:23 mark.
"Once they started missing some shots, we were able to get a little confidence and get some things going," Perry said.
After UAB'a Morris Finley missed a three-point attempt, Perry was charged with an offensive foul that was disputed vehemently by the SLU bench on his next foray to the basket. UAB's Bush missed a jumper on the Blazers' ensuing possession, and Bills forward Chris Sloan was fouled on the rebound. After Sloan made one of two free throws, Saint Louis led for the first time 62-61 with 23 seconds remaining.
Bush answered with his lay-up setting the stage once again for Perry to perform the late game heroics that had marked the Bills' eight-game winning streak. Perry drove to the basket and his shot off glass wouldn't go, but the rebound sailed out of bounds to SLU with 2.1 seconds left. Off the inbounds, Perry slipped on his initial move and was forced to make one more dribble than he wanted. Time ran out before he could get the shot off.
"I hit a wet spot on the floor and needed another dribble just to regain my balance," Perry said. "There just wasn't enough time."
Bush and forward Gabe Kennedy topped the Blazers (19-11) with 16 points, and Kennedy grabbed a game-high 12 boards. Finley finished with 14 points. The Blazers shot 41.7 percent from the field, but only 19 percent from three.
Perry finished with a game-high 20 points. Brown posted his third double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 boards. Sloan also tossed in 12, while Fisher finished with 10 points and a team-high four assists. The Bills shot 46 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from three. The Bills out-rebounded the Blazers 38-29, but committed 16 turnovers that UAB turned into 18 points.
Saint Louis (16-13) saw its eight-game winning streak end and is hopeful of an NIT bid on Sunday.
