Dec. 23, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, AL.- Marvett McDonald scored 18 points and Carldell Johnson added 16 to lead the Blazers of the University of Alabama at Birmingham to a 85-57 victory over the Monarchs. ODU is now 7-4, while UAB is 6-3.
The Blazers shot .625 (20-32) from the floor in the first half, while the Monarch shot only .261 (6-23). UAB led 48-22 at halftime in a matchup of two former Sun Belt Conference rivals. For the game, UAB shot .523 (34-65) from the floor, while ODU shot .357(20-56).
The Monarchs were led in scoring by senior Isaiah Hunter (Charlotte, NC.) and junior Valdas Vasylias (Klapiada, Lithuania) with 18 points each. Vasylias missed the Richmondgame with a sprained ankle. Alex Loughton (Perth, Australia) scored only seven points with a team high five rebounds before fouling out midway in the second half. Vasylius was six of eight from the floor and a perfect three-for-three from three point range.
UAB's McDonald also dished out six assists and came up with four of the Blazers Nine steals which forced ODU into 18 turnovers.
UAB jumped out to a 14-0 lead with 16:09 left in the first half.ODU cut it to 15-10 after a three-point shot by Brandon Johnson, butcould get no closer.
Drew Williamson led ODU with four assists, while Brian Henderson added three assists.
ODU, who has lost two straight returns to action on Dec. 30 when they host state rival Virginia Tech in the Ted Constant Convocation Center.