The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Monday, November 4
Birmingham, Ala.
6:30 p.m.
UAB
vs
Vermont
UAB MBB Hosts Vermont in Season Opener
11/3/2024 1:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM – UAB men's basketball will open the 2024-25 season on Monday night against Vermont. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT. The matchup is one of three on the opening day of college basketball season that features two teams that played in the NCAA Tournament last year.
Prior to the game, the Blazers will celebrate their 2024 American Conference Tournament title, and the first 1,000 season ticket holders and fans will receive a commemorative banner. A banner reveal ceremony will also take place prior to the game.
WATCH
Monday's game will stream live on ESPN+ with Curt Bloom (pxp), Mo Finley (analyst) and Lynden Blake (sideline) on the call.
LISTEN
David Crane (pxp) and Steve Mitchell (analyst) will call the game for the Blazers on 100.5 ESPN.
SERIES HISTORY
Monday will be the first meeting between UAB and Vermont.
LAST TIME OUT
The Blazers picked up an 88-79 win on the road at Western Kentucky in an exhibition contest. Six different Blazers reached double figures, led by Efrem "Butta" Johnson with 16 and Tyren Moore with 15. Yaxel Lendeborg and Bradley Ezewiro each had double-doubles in the win.
AK'S REVIVAL
Head coach Andy Kennedy often talks about re-establishing the "Bartow Standard" in Birmingham by competing for and winning championships year after year. AK has lived up to the standard over his first four seasons at UAB. The Blazers have won 101 games over four years which is tied for 10th in the nation over that time. Kennedy has led UAB to two conference championships, a pair of NCAA Tournament berths and the school's first-ever appearance in the NIT title game.
RETURNING TALENT
The UAB roster features large amount of returning production from last season's NCAA Tournament squad, including five players that started a game. The Blazers return 62.3% of its scoring from last season and 60.7% of its rebounding.
PRESEASON WATCHLISTS
Yaxel Lendeborg was named to multiple award watch lists ahead of the 2024-25 season, including the Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Watch List and the Karl Malone Award Watch List. He is the first UAB player to appear on the Naismith Trophy Watch List since Jordan "Jelly" Walker was listed prior to the 2022-23 season.
JUCO DAWGS
UAB has embraced the JUCO ranks during Andy Kennedy's time in Birmingham and the 2024-25 roster features seven players that have played at a Junior College including Christian Coleman (South Plains), Greg Gordon (Dyersburg State), Marquis Hargrove (Arizona Western), Ja'Borri McGhee (Garden City/South Plains), Yaxel Lendeborg (Arizona Western), and Alejandro Vasquez (Salt Lake). JUCO players accounted for 41.7% of the Blazers' scoring last season and 48.4% of their rebounding.
PROTECTING THE RIM
The Blazers ranked 41st in the country in blocks per game last season with 4.5. Lendeborg's 72 blocks ranked 20th in the nation and were the seventh most by a UAB player in a single season. UAB blocked at least five shots in four straight games from Nov. 12-25, its longest such streak since the 2015-16 season. Nine different players blocked at least one shot.
PURCHASE YOUR 2024-25 SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2024-25 UAB men's basketball season are still available starting as low as $110. Season packages will feature all home games during UAB's second season in the American Athletic Conference and provide the most cost-effective way to attend games in Bartow Arena. An overview of the sales timeline can be found here, and fans may request more information here or by calling the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1.
GROUP RATES AND FAN EXPERIENCE PACKAGES NOW AVAILABLE
Individual and corporate groups can plan an unforgettable experience during any of UAB's home events at Bartow Arena this season by filling out the UAB Basketball Group Ticket Request Form. Fan experience packages and discounted group tickets are available for a minimum purchase of 15 tickets, and fan experiences at Bartow Arena are available at any home basketball game on a first come, first served basis throughout the season.
Group ticket packages provide your family, friends, or company the opportunity to save money on the single game ticket price while providing access to memorable fan experiences at Bartow Arena. Discounted group rates are available for both men's and women's basketball games and pricing is based on the size of the pre-purchased group. This season, UAB Athletics is offering unique fan experiences for groups including a spirit tunnel, sideline warm-up watch, group photo at center court, post-game free throws, and videoboard recognition, among others. Click here for a complete listing of the group rates, group benefits, and fan experience packages offered.
POWER UP
UAB Athletics is excited to compete in the American Athletic Conference and needs Blazer Nation to Power Up by becoming a 2024 Blazer Boosters member. Join Blazer Boosters today as UAB student-athletes compete for championships, graduate with honors, and make a difference in our community.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB men's basketball team, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
Prior to the game, the Blazers will celebrate their 2024 American Conference Tournament title, and the first 1,000 season ticket holders and fans will receive a commemorative banner. A banner reveal ceremony will also take place prior to the game.
WATCH
Monday's game will stream live on ESPN+ with Curt Bloom (pxp), Mo Finley (analyst) and Lynden Blake (sideline) on the call.
LISTEN
David Crane (pxp) and Steve Mitchell (analyst) will call the game for the Blazers on 100.5 ESPN.
SERIES HISTORY
Monday will be the first meeting between UAB and Vermont.
LAST TIME OUT
The Blazers picked up an 88-79 win on the road at Western Kentucky in an exhibition contest. Six different Blazers reached double figures, led by Efrem "Butta" Johnson with 16 and Tyren Moore with 15. Yaxel Lendeborg and Bradley Ezewiro each had double-doubles in the win.
AK'S REVIVAL
Head coach Andy Kennedy often talks about re-establishing the "Bartow Standard" in Birmingham by competing for and winning championships year after year. AK has lived up to the standard over his first four seasons at UAB. The Blazers have won 101 games over four years which is tied for 10th in the nation over that time. Kennedy has led UAB to two conference championships, a pair of NCAA Tournament berths and the school's first-ever appearance in the NIT title game.
RETURNING TALENT
The UAB roster features large amount of returning production from last season's NCAA Tournament squad, including five players that started a game. The Blazers return 62.3% of its scoring from last season and 60.7% of its rebounding.
PRESEASON WATCHLISTS
Yaxel Lendeborg was named to multiple award watch lists ahead of the 2024-25 season, including the Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Watch List and the Karl Malone Award Watch List. He is the first UAB player to appear on the Naismith Trophy Watch List since Jordan "Jelly" Walker was listed prior to the 2022-23 season.
JUCO DAWGS
UAB has embraced the JUCO ranks during Andy Kennedy's time in Birmingham and the 2024-25 roster features seven players that have played at a Junior College including Christian Coleman (South Plains), Greg Gordon (Dyersburg State), Marquis Hargrove (Arizona Western), Ja'Borri McGhee (Garden City/South Plains), Yaxel Lendeborg (Arizona Western), and Alejandro Vasquez (Salt Lake). JUCO players accounted for 41.7% of the Blazers' scoring last season and 48.4% of their rebounding.
PROTECTING THE RIM
The Blazers ranked 41st in the country in blocks per game last season with 4.5. Lendeborg's 72 blocks ranked 20th in the nation and were the seventh most by a UAB player in a single season. UAB blocked at least five shots in four straight games from Nov. 12-25, its longest such streak since the 2015-16 season. Nine different players blocked at least one shot.
PURCHASE YOUR 2024-25 SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2024-25 UAB men's basketball season are still available starting as low as $110. Season packages will feature all home games during UAB's second season in the American Athletic Conference and provide the most cost-effective way to attend games in Bartow Arena. An overview of the sales timeline can be found here, and fans may request more information here or by calling the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1.
GROUP RATES AND FAN EXPERIENCE PACKAGES NOW AVAILABLE
Individual and corporate groups can plan an unforgettable experience during any of UAB's home events at Bartow Arena this season by filling out the UAB Basketball Group Ticket Request Form. Fan experience packages and discounted group tickets are available for a minimum purchase of 15 tickets, and fan experiences at Bartow Arena are available at any home basketball game on a first come, first served basis throughout the season.
Group ticket packages provide your family, friends, or company the opportunity to save money on the single game ticket price while providing access to memorable fan experiences at Bartow Arena. Discounted group rates are available for both men's and women's basketball games and pricing is based on the size of the pre-purchased group. This season, UAB Athletics is offering unique fan experiences for groups including a spirit tunnel, sideline warm-up watch, group photo at center court, post-game free throws, and videoboard recognition, among others. Click here for a complete listing of the group rates, group benefits, and fan experience packages offered.
POWER UP
UAB Athletics is excited to compete in the American Athletic Conference and needs Blazer Nation to Power Up by becoming a 2024 Blazer Boosters member. Join Blazer Boosters today as UAB student-athletes compete for championships, graduate with honors, and make a difference in our community.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB men's basketball team, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
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