UAB MBB Downs South Florida to Move to 2-0 in AAC Play

Sunday, January 7

Birmingham, Ala.

2 p.m.

UAB

10-5,2-0AAC

South Florida

8-5,1-1AAC

South Fla.

UAB

Photo by: Sully Ortega

UAB MBB Downs South Florida to Move to 2-0 in AAC Play

1/7/2024 7:22:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Postgame Presser

BIRMINGHAM – Yaxel Lendeborg put up his third-straight double-double with 23 points and 15 rebounds to lead UAB men's basketball (10-5, 2-0 AAC) to a 75-71 win over South Florida (8-5, 1-1 AAC).

The Blazers have won six straight games after picking up their first home conference win in AAC
play.

Lendeborg got the Blazers started in the first half with 12 first half points, including UAB's first four. The UAB lead stretch to seven points late in the period with 2:30 on the clock, but the Bulls battled back. USF closed the half on an 8-2 run to cut its deficit to just one point at 36-35. The Blazers lone points in that stretch came from the 6'9" Lendeborg driving from one baseline to the other for a dunk.

The contest remained close through the first 10 minutes of the second half, before a 10-2 UAB pushed the Blazers' advantage to 10 at the 8:42 mark. Alejandro Vasquez scored eight-straight points for UAB, including a pair of three-pointers.

The Bulls responded with an immediate 11-1 run to tie the game at 63-63 with 5:28 remaining. Brandon Stroud gave USF its first lead in about 10 minutes of game time with a pair of free throws at the 3:21 mark.

UAB led by two points with less than one minute remaining and the clock winding down. Yaxel Lendeborg was able to secure a key rebound a knock down two free throws with 19 seconds to go to push the score to 73-69. The Blazers were not able to convert their free throws on the ensuing possession, giving USF another chance. After a USF layup with three seconds remaining, Eric Gaines was able to ice it with two free throws.

NOTES

UAB won its sixth straight game and has opened AAC play at 2-0.
Yaxel Lendeborg put together his third-straight double-double and he has scored at least 23 points and 15 rebounds in all three games.
Alejandro Vasquez added 17 points while shooting 3-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Efrem "Butta" Johnson finished in double figures for the seventh time this season.
The Blazers attempted a season-high 41 free throws.

UP NEXT
The Blazers will travel to Boca Raton to face No. 17 Florida Atlantic on Sunday, January 14 at 11 a.m. CT.

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