Blazers Fall 84-83 to Illinois State

Saturday, November 23

St. Thomas, USVI

2 p.m.

UAB

3-4,0-0AAC

Illinois State

4-2,0-0MVC

UAB

Illinois St.

Photo by: Bill Kiser

Blazers Fall 84-83 to Illinois State

11/23/2024 7:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

ST. THOMAS, USVI – UAB men's basketball (3-4) fell to Illinois State (4-2) in its second game of the Paradise Jam by a score of 84-83. The Redbirds hit a pair of free throws with five seconds remaining to take the lead and hold on in the final seconds.

After trailing early, the Blazers were able to fight their way back and take a 23-15 lead after an Alejandro Vasquez steal and dunk, capping a 12-2 Blazer run. That would be the largest lead of the night by either team as the Redbirds battled back with an 17-3 run to take a 32-26 lead.

Following the Redbirds' run, UAB countered with another 12-2 run to go back in front at 38-34. The Blazers ran into some foul trouble in the first half as Ja'Borri McGhee picked up three fouls and Christian Coleman had two.

Late in the half, Vasquez knocked down a three to put the Blazers ahead by seven, but ISU responded with a triple of their own and the half concluded with a 43-39 Blazers lead.

UAB scored the first two buckets of the second half, again jumping out to an eight-point lead, but Illinois State would not go away.

The Blazers were unable to stop the Redbird offense throughout the night. UAB allowed ISU to shoot 56.6 percent from the field and hit 11 three-pointers.

The contest remained within one possession for the final 8:24 as the teams went back and forth. Over that time there were 11 different go-ahead shots by each team.

Efrem "Butta" Johnson hit a game-tying jumper with 1:33 remaining and the Blazers were able to get a stop on the ensuing possession before calling a timeout. Yaxel Lendeborg was called for a charge on the next possession, fouling him out of the game with 44 seconds to go.

The Redbirds were able to get to the free throw line on the next possession as Bradley Ezewiro was whistled for a foul and Dalton Banks hit both free throws.

After Christian Coleman grabbed an offensive rebound on the Blazers' possession, he kicked it out to Alejandro Vasquez for a three with 11 seconds remaining to give UAB an 83-82 lead. UAB was again called for a foul, putting ISU on the line and they hit both free throws with five seconds to go, retaking the lead. Johnson's shot at the buzzer was off the mark, ending the game at 84-83 in favor of Illinois State.

NOTES

The loss was the Blazers' first after leading at halftime this season.
UAB was outrebounded for the first time this year.
The Blazers shot a season-best 8-for-19 (.421) from three.
Alejandro Vasquez finished with a season-high 19 points while shooting 3-for-4 from the field.
Efrem "Butta" Johnson added 18 points on 6-for-12 shooting.
Yaxel Lendeborg added 14 points and a career high seven assists but finished with only four rebounds.

UP NEXT
The Blazers will face Louisiana on Monday, November 25 at 11:30 a.m. on ESPN+ to close the Paradise Jam.

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