The first round of the NIT tournament could not have happened any better-or seemingly any faster-as Kyle Collinsworth led the Cougars past Alabama-Birmingham 97-79 with his 12th career triple-double. The first half for the Cougars seemed to have everything rolling. They built a 21-point lead in an exciting style with a couple thunderous dunks mixed in with the usual barrage of three-pointers from the backcourt.
For the first part of the second half, UAB really went on a run. They shot over 60 percent while senior guard Robert Brown going on a tear as he scored 27 of his 29 points in the second half.