March 3, 2002

HOUSTON (AP) - Alabama-Birmingham's Will Campbell missed two free throws that would have tied the score with four seconds left, and Houston held on for a 76-72 victory Saturday night.

Houston (16-13, 9-7 Conference USA) built a 71-62 lead with 45 seconds left before the Blazers (13-16, 6-10) mounted a comeback with a 10-3 run.

UAB pulled to within 74-72 when Campbell missed his free throws. Houston's Dominic Smith then was fouled and hit two free throws to seal the game.

Smith paced the Cougars with 20 points, six assists and three steals. Patrick Okafor added 14 points, and Marcus Oliver and Louis Truscott scored 12 apiece for Houston.

Campbell scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for UAB, but he went 4-of-10 from the free throw line. Myron Ransom was the only other Blazer in double figures, scoring 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field.

Houston will be the sixth seed at the C-USA tournament that begins Wednesday in Cincinnati. UAB will be the ninth seed.