Dec. 30, 2003
TAMPA, Fla. - South Alabama forward Richard Law came off the bench to score a career-high 21 points to lead the Jaguars to a 56-52 win over Texas-Arlington in the consolation championship game at the USF Holiday Classic at the Sun Dome here Tuesday.
UTA (4-5) was led in scoring by all-tournament selection Derrick Obasohan with 16 points. Stephen Floyd poured 15 and Steven Thomas added 14 for the Mavericks who lost for the third straight game.
Law hit his first five field goals in the first half as South Alabama shot 57.1% from the field (12-of-21) to carve out a 30-27 halftime lead. Six of the Jaguars first seven field goals were three pointers and they built a 20-14 lead after a Law 3-pointer with 6:14 to play in the first half.
UTA stayed close until a 6-0 run midway through the second half gave South Alabama a 48-39 lead after a Law jumper with 11:49 to play in the game. UTA trimmed the lead to five, 51-46, after a Thomas jumper with 3:52 to play. Thomas banked a shot in the lane to cut the lead to 51-48 with 2:15 to cut but could get no closer.
"Although we are disappointed to lose two games, I can see a lot of improve from our team during this tournament," said UTA head coach Eddie McCarter. "I thought our defense stepped up a level against some pretty good teams. If we can continue to cut down turnovers and continue to improve offensively I think we will be OK for conference.
"I thought Stephen Floyd really stepped up and played well this tournament. We knew Stephen was a player who could come in as a freshman and make a contribution and he has done that. Derrick (Obasohan) let the game come to him and did a great job defending and rebounding the past two games."
UTA returns to action Friday when they face 17th-ranked Texas in Austin at 7:05 p.m. The game will be televised regionally on FOX Southwest. The game will be tape delayed in the Dallas-area and will be shown at 9:45 p.m. on KDFI (Channel 27).
South Alabama 56, Texas-Arlington 52
Texas-Arlington (4-5) - Obaoshan 7-18 2-3 16, Thomas 5-10 4-5 14, Johnson 2-7 1-2 5, Floyd 6-14 0-0 15, K. Howell 1-3 0-0 2, J. Howell 0-1 0-0 0, Dawkins 0-0 0-0 0, Hairfield 0-2 0-0 0, Henderson 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 21-57 7-10 52.
South Alabama (5-5) - Phillips 1-4 0-0 2, Bedden 2-2 2-2 7, Ba 2-5 0-0 4, Spencer 0-2 0-0 0, Young 2-10 0-0 6, Smith 1-3 0-0 2, Miller 3-6 0-0 8, Law 9-11 0-1 21, Williams 3-5 0-2 6. Totals: 23-48 25 56.
Halftime: USA S30, UTA 27. Three-point field goals: UTA 3-13 (Floyd 3-9, Henderson 0-1, Hairfield 0-1, Obasohan 0-2), USA 8-21 (Law 3-5, Young 2-8, Miller 2-5, Bedden 1-1, Phillips 0-1, Smith 0-1, Spencer 0-1). Rebounds: UTA 36 (Obasohan 8), USA 29 (Law 6). Assists: UTA 13 (Floyd and Johnson 3), USA 14 (Smith 6). Turnovers: UTA 10 (Thomas 4), USA 11 (four with 2). Blocks: UTA 0, USA 3 (Ba 2). Steals: UTA 2 (Obasohan, K. Howell), USA 3 (Miller 2). Total fouls: UTA 9, USA 15. Fouled out: B
