UAB Men's Basketball Downs WKU in Charity Exhibition

Sunday, October 27

Bowling Green, KY

2 p.m.

UAB

0-0,0-0AAC

Western Kentucky (Exh.)

0-0,0-0CUSA

UAB

Western Ky.

Photo by: Zach Irvine

UAB Men's Basketball Downs WKU in Charity Exhibition

10/27/2024 6:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – UAB men's basketball went on the road to face Western Kentucky in a charity exhibition on Sunday and picked up an 88-79 win over the Hilltoppers.

Efrem "Butta" Johnson led the Blazers with 16 points and five assists as six different players reached double figures. Both Yaxel Lendeborg and Bradley Ezewiro each added double-doubles.

Both teams got off to a sloppy start on the offensive end as the Blazers built a 6-0 lead over the first three minutes. The Hilltoppers responded and were able to battle back to take their only lead of the day at 19-17 with 8:36 on the clock in the first half.

Late in the first half, the Blazers extended their lead to seven after Lendeborg knocked down a pair of free throws, but a three from the Hilltoppers cut the UAB advantage to just 38-34 at the half. UAB shot only 37.1 percent from the field (13-35) and 47.4 percent (9-19) from the free throw line in the first half.

The Blazers extended their lead immediately to 10 points in the second half, forcing a WKU timeout at the 18:00 mark following an alley-oop to Greg Gordon that he finished over a defender with his left hand.

At the 11:36 mark, WKU cut the lead to just four points at 54-50 after Babacar Faye's putback, but the Blazers were able to start their largest run of the game.

UAB went on a 9-0 run to force a WKU timeout that was capped by a Tyren Moore three. After the timeout, Johnson and Moore hit threes on each of the next two possessions to make it a 19-point game at 69-50.

The Hilltoppers battled back in the final minutes, forcing a handful of UAB turnovers, but the Blazers held off WKU, earning an 88-79 win.

NOTES

Six different Blazers finished in double figures.
The Blazers were 9-for-19 in the first half from the free throw line but shot 14-for-17 in the second half.
Efrem "Butta" Johnson had a strong outing for UAB with 16 points and five assists while shooting 4-for-7 from the field and 6-for-7 from the line.
Tyren Moore scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half while knocking down three 3FGs.
Bradley Ezewiro recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 boards in his first action as a Blazer.
Yaxel Lendeborg struggled from the field, but was able to score 12 points and grab 15 rebounds to go with four assists, two blocks and a steal.
Greg Gordon made an impact for the Blazers with eight points, four rebounds, and four steals.
Christian Coleman added 10 points, six rebounds, three steals and two blocks.

UP NEXT
The Blazers will host three-time reigning America East Champion Vermont on Monday, November 4 at 6:30 p.m. CT at Bartow Arena for the season opener.

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