COL BKB: Louisville 77, UAB 73

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Feb. 5 (UPI) -- The ninth-ranked Louisville Cardinals had a tougher time of it than expectred Saturday night before downing University of Alabama-Birmingham, 77-73.

Larry O'Bannon scored 21 points and Francisco Garcia 19 for the Cardinals (20-3, 8-1 Conference USA), who have won nine straight and 14 of their last 15 games.

Demario Eddins had 18 points and Donell Taylor 16 to lead UAB (16-6, 6-3).

UAB, closing the first half with a 19-7 spurt, held a 45-43 halftime lead. Louisville went ahead 54-47 early in the second half, but UAB tied it at 70-70 with 3:24 remaining.

The score was still tied, at 73-73, with 59 seconds left, but Louisville made the last four points of the game from the free throw line.