By Kyle Parmley
Sports Writer
AUBURN – In as thrilling a contest as you could ask for in a season opener, the home team prevailed.
T.J. Lang hit a 3-pointer from the corner with 16 seconds to play and Horace Spencer blocked a shot as time expired, as Auburn knocked off UAB, 75-74, on Friday night in Auburn Arena.
UAB (0-1), an NCAA Tournament team last season, tied the game twice, but did not lead in the game until 35 seconds remained in regulation, thanks to a 3-point play from Robert Brown. Auburn came right back down the floor and responded with Lang’s 3-pointer.
UAB head basketball coach Jerod Haase
photo courtesy of www.uabsports.com
“Both teams played really hard,” UAB head coach Jerod Haase said. “It certainly had the feel of a rivalry game.”
Auburn (1-0) took advantage of taking 20 more free throws than UAB. The Tigers converted 24-of-31 from the charity stripe, while the Blazers hit eight of the 11 free throws they took.
“I was proud of my guys in terms of their effort. Statistically, there were a lot of things that were similar. But at the end of the day, when your opponent shoots 20 more free throws than you, it’s hard to overcome that,” Haase said.
Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl had nothing but praise for UAB following the game.
“We beat the best team in the state of Alabama,” he said.
Despite it being the first game of the season, the importance of the win was not lost on Pearl.
“Wins like that last all year long,” he said. “UAB is going to beat a lot of people.”
Chris Cokley, Conference USA’s sixth man of the year a season ago as a freshman, dominated the game for UAB. He finished 12-of-19 from the field for 25 points and 12 rebounds.
“Cokley is a beast,” Pearl said. “He was dominant for them inside.”
Pearl added that he thought Cokley and sophomore William Lee could “do damage” in the SEC.
Brown, UAB’s leading scorer a year ago, struggled with his shooting. Although he began forcing shots in the second half, he contributed in other ways, notching a team-high 11 assists.
Nick Norton and Hakeem Baxter also hit double figures, with ten points apiece for the Blazers.
Kareem Canty hit a 3-pointer to give Auburn a six-point lead, but Norton responded with a corner 3 to make the score 72-69 with 2:41 to play.
Auburn’s top three leading scorers were playing in their first official contest for the Tigers. Canty (20 points), T.J. Dunans (17 points), and Tyler Harris (14 points) joined Cinmeon Bowers (11 points) in double digits.
Spencer’s block at the end of the game was no aberration, as the true freshman swatted a total of five shots on the night.
After struggling for much of the first half to make shots, the Blazers used a 9-0 spurt to close the gap to three, as they went into the break trailing 40-37.
Madness broke out early in the second half, as each team missed opportunities at several easy baskets, but a string of about six passes in a row by both teams were deflected and turned over.
UAB returns to the court Monday night, as they play host to Alabama State at 8 p.m.
