BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - The best news for the UAB Blazers coming off a near-miss against No. 3 Tennessee: Coach Watson Brown thinks his team can play much better.

"I thought our guys gave a great effort and showed a lot of physical toughness," Brown said Monday of the Blazers' 17-10 defeat. "But we can still play a lot better. We can play with more confidence and poise than we did on Saturday and we can execute better in all phases of the game except for maybe the kicking game."

The Blazers, who visit in-state rival Troy Saturday night, held the Volunteers scoreless in the second half and drove to the Tennessee 11-yard line late in the game with a chance to tie it. Darrell Hackney's pass sailed over the head of receiver Lance Rhodes in the end zone to end the threat with less than four minutes remaining.

The game was still a confidence booster for UAB, which few expected to come so close.

"We took a moral victory from the game against Tennessee," said Hackney, who passed for 282 yards. "We need to try and get better this week but a lot of players played their hearts out in Knoxville."

Safety Brandon Register, who intercepted two passes, said the forced turnovers were a positive sign for the defense and a sign of a turnaround from last year.

It was also an encouraging sight considering UAB lost all three starting linebackers from last season.

"We learned we need to be more disciplined as a defense," Register said. "Last year we tried to do more than just our jobs. Sometimes one guy would miss an assignment, then another player would try to cover for them and get out of position.

"But in the Tennessee game, everyone did what they were supposed to do for the most part."