UAB's Roddy White tries to haul in Darrell Hackney's pass but is unsuccessful while under pressure from Cincinnati's Daven Holley. (Enquirer photo/Thomas E. Witte)

After their 30-27 loss to Alabama-Birmingham Saturday before 21,053 at Nippert Stadium, the Bearcats (2-3, 1-1 Conference USA) talked about turning around their season before it gets out of hand.

"We had great expectations coming into this season," wide receiver George Murray said. "What's done is done. We just know that starting Tuesday we've got to come in and practice and change this whole season around."

Trailing 20-3 at halftime, the Bearcats staged a strong second-half comeback but were unable to close the deal against UAB (3-1, 2-0).

UC, which never led in the game, got within three points three times in the second half.

Clinging to a 23-20 lead, the Blazers staged a 76-yard, 10-play touchdown drive that covered 4:09 in the fourth quarter to increase the lead to 30-20 with 8:48 to go.

The clinching touchdown came on a third down-and-7 play from the UC 8-yard line. Quarterback Darrell Hackney, under a heavy rush, tossed a pass that tight end Cedric Hampton caught inches above the ground and carried the ball into the end zone.

"That drive in the fourth quarter, you've got to give them a lot of credit," Dantonio said. "But we didn't stop them."

UC's last gasp was a 6-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Gino Guidugli to Hannibal Thomas with 15 seconds left. The Bearcats move 83 yards on seven plays.

UC's on-side kick was recovered by UAB's Roddy White with 14 seconds remaining.

Guidugli completed 29 of 50 passes for 300 yards and three touchdowns. He was intercepted once.

The Bearcats outgained UAB, 403 yards to 223 but committed two turnovers to the Blazers' none.

But they had trouble getting their offense on track in the first half and were unable to dig out of the hole they dug for themselves.

"This is not what the seniors or anybody on this team or anybody on this coaching staff wants to do," Guidugli said. "All of our games have been close. It's a mistake here or an inch there, a ball bouncing their way instead of our way. We've just got to somehow, some way, find a way to reverse things."

UC was held to 103 yards rushing. Freshman Bradley Glatthaar led UC with 45 yards on six carries.

Senior running back Richard Hall did not carry the ball in the second half because of an injured shoulder. When the UC trainers told Dantonio that Hall might have trouble holding onto the ball, the UC coach decided not to take a chance.

Trailing by 17, the Bearcats began the second half by forcing UAB to go three-and-out on its first possession. UC then drove 57 yards on seven plays and scored on an 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Guidugli to Doug Jones to draw to within 20-10 with 10:35 to go in the third quarter.

A Brian Steel punt backed up UAB on its own 5-yard line. After three plays, the Blazers were forced to punt the ball back to UC.

The Bearcats took over on the UAB 41 and scored in eight plays. The touchdown came on a third-and-10 play. Thomas caught a Guidugli pass at the 18, cut back to his left and ran into the end zone. Kevin Lovell's extra point cut UAB's lead to 20-17 with 3:43 to go in the third quarter.

UAB-Cincinnati, Stats

UAB	6	14	3	7-30
Cincinnati	0	3	14	10-27

First Quarter

UAB-FG Hayes 38, 7:16.

UAB-FG Hayes 38, 2:39.

Second Quarter

Cin-Lovell FG 49, 14:12.

UAB-White 7 pass from Hackney (Hayes kick), 5:44.

UAB-Evans 30 interception return (Hayes kick), 4:50.

Third Quarter

Cin-Jones 8 pass from Guidugli (Lovell kick), 7:57.

Cin-Thomas 19 pass from Guidugli (Lovell kick), 3:43.

UAB-FG Hayes 32, :23.

Fourth Quarter

Cin-FG Lovell 44, 12:57.

UAB-Hampton 8 pass from Hackney (Hayes kick), 8:48.

Cin-Thomas 6 pass from Guidugli (Lovell kick), :15.

A-N/A.

	UAB	Cin
First downs	13	21
Rushes-yards	34-116	30-103
Passing	107	300
Comp-Att-Int	12-30-0	29-52-1
Return Yards	109	12
Punts-Avg.	7-62.3	5-66.0
Fumbles-Lost	0-0	2-1
Penalties-Yards	3-27	7-70
Time of Possession	26:16	34:44

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-UAB, Burks 17-79, White 8-42, Elliott 2-5, Team 1-(minus 3), Hackney 6-(minus 7). Cincinnati, Glatthaar 6-45, Hall 6-29, Benton 9-20, Guidugli 7-6, Daniels 2-3.

PASSING-UAB, Hackney 12-30-0-107. Cincinnati, Guidugli 29-52-1-300.

RECEIVING-UAB, White 6-80, Hampton 2-13, Lindsey 2-8, Drinkard 1-6, White 1-0. Cincinnati, Jackson 7-89, Murray 6-94, Thomas 4-51, Jones 3-21, Hall 3-12, Celek 1-17, Ross 1-13, Benton 1-3, Daniels 1-0, Dawley 1-0, Poland 1-0.

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