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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The 19th-ranked University of Alabama in Huntsville men's basketball team nearly came all the way back from a 14-point deficit, but visiting Stillman was able to hang on for a 74-71 decision on Sunday afternoon. The Chargers slip to 1-1 with the setback, while the Tigers improve to 1-1.
 
Wayne Dedrick led UAH on the afternoon as he was 8-for-17 from the floor including four shots from beyond the arc to register 21 points.
 
Stillman used 10 first-half 3-pointers to build up a 41-30 advantage at the break, and though the Chargers would close the gap to 50-44 with 12:36 remaining in the contest, a 10-2 run over the next three minutes provided the Tigers with a 14-point advantage at 60-46 at the 9:32 mark.
 
Continuing to lead by double digits, the visitors were up 68-58 with 4:48 left when UAH would go on a strong run to get back into the contest.
 
Sparking the late push was Ronnie Mack who converted on three free throws after being fouled on a long-range attempt with 4:38 on the clock, and Dedrick then drained a trey which was followed by a Spencer Palmer triple at the 2:24 mark to pull the Chargers to within three at 70-67.
 
After Stillman turned the ball over, Dedrick would bury another 3-pointer with just under two minutes left to tie the contest at 70-70.
 
Down the stretch, however, Stillman would hit four free throws while not allowing the Chargers anything but one successful try at the charity stripe to leave Huntsville with the 74-71 victory.
 
Joining Dedrick in double figures on the night were Mack who scored 16 and Conner Blasi who chipped in with 14. Grabbing seven rebounds, Blasi also led UAH on the glass.
 
For the game, UAH outshot Stillman by a 44.3 percent to 41.1 percent margin, but the difference in the contest was the performance from downtown by the Tigers as they hit 14 3-pointers while holding the Chargers to only seven. The guests also had a 38-34 advantage in rebounding.
 
The Chargers will now turn their attention to the 2013 Mayor's Cup contest as the rivalry between Alabama A&M and UAH will be renewed on Thursday night at the Von Braun Center. Tickets for the contest are available at the VBC box office and at ticketmaster.com.