Rice University Athletics
Rice University
11-13, 3-7
UAB
18-6, 8-3
UAB Grabs 74-68 Win From Rice
2/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 12, 2011
Final Stats
Rice vs. UAB Game Book 
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB senior guard Jamarr Sanders scored a career-high 37 points, knocking down 8-of-14 three-point attempts as the Blazers beat Rice 74-68 Saturday night in Bartow Arena.
With the loss, Rice fell to 11-13 and 3-7 in Conference USA play. The Owls continue a two-game road stand on Wednesday, playing at Marshall. UAB is 18-6 and 8-3 heading into a midweek game at Memphis.
Rice held a 37-33 lead at the break in a game which featured 12 lead changes.
With 11:28 to play, the Owls led 49-44 when Cory Pflieger beat the shot clock with a long-range three. But Sanders answered with a three from the corner. After a Rice turnover, Preston Purifoy's trey with 10:35 left put the Blazers out in front, 50-49 with 10:35 to play.
Later, Arsalan Kazemi would tap out a loose ball on the UAB perimeter and take the steal to the basket for what ended up being a fast-break, three-point play that put the Owls back in front 52-50. At the other end Sanders was able to find Ovie Soku free for a dunk that tied the game. After a Rice offensive foul, Sanders again nailed a three-pointer to put the Blazers out in front, 55-52.
Sanders final three-pointer would later put the Blazers out in front by six, 60-54 with 7:25 to play.
Sanders' eight three-pointers tied a Rice opponent record. The Blazers were 12-of-25 from behind the three-point arc.
In the final minutes of the game, free throws by Kazemi and Connor Frizzelle pulled Rice to within a point, 63-62 with 3:50 to play.
The Owls came close to getting another defensive stop when Sanders missed on a three-point attempt but Quincy Taylor tracked down a long offensive carom and Soko later scored inside to put the Blazers up by three.
Rice hit a stretch in which they missed four straight field goals and couldn't answer on the offensive end with defensive stops including a Kazemi block and the missed front end of a one-and-one by Blazer point guard Aaron Johnson.
Johnson became the Blazers' all-time assist leader during the game. He finished with nine assists but also had eight turnovers and was 4-for-7 from the line while playing the entire game.
Kazemi led Rice with 17 points, including an 11-for-11 performance from the free throw line. Frizzelle was the only other Rice player to go to the line and was 4-for-4. He scored 14 points for the Owls. Tamir Jackson added 13 points, five assists and three steals.
The Blazers played without junior forward Cameron Moore who is averaging 15.6 points and 9.8 rebounds. Moore broke his hand during Friday's practice.
Trailing 8-5 early in the game, UAB connected on four three-pointers in a matter of two minutes to take its biggest lead of the half, 17-5. Sanders drained a trio of three-pointers while Taylor added a fourth during the rally.
Sanders scored 18 points in the first period, more than half the Blazers' total at the break. Despite seven UAB three-pointers in the opening half, Rice held a 37-33 lead at the break.
The half featured nine lead changes. The Owls took the lead for good in the period on a Suleiman Braimoh jumper that put Rice in front 33-31. Kazemi would score the Owls' final four points of the period at the free throw line. He was 8-for-8 at the stripe including hitting both ends on a pair of one-and-one opportunities.
