Blazers Fall 76-69 to Middle Tennessee

Sunday, December 1

Birmingham, Ala.

3 p.m.

UAB

4-5,0-0AAC

Middle Tennessee

6-2,0-0CUSA

Middle Tenn.

UAB

Photo by: Jalen Austin McDade

Blazers Fall 76-69 to Middle Tennessee

12/1/2024 7:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Postgame Presser

BIRMINGHAM – UAB men's basketball (4-5) fell to Middle Tennessee (6-2) at home on Sunday afternoon by a score of 76-69. The Blue Raiders led by as many as 16 in the second half and the Blazers could not overcome the deficit.

Ja'Borri McGhee and Yaxel Lendeborg each had 16 points to lead the Blazers while Tyren Moore added 12.

UAB's only lead of the contest came with 18:36 on the clock in the first half, but the Blue Raiders immediately responded with an 8-0 run. Middle Tennessee led by as many as 15 points in the first half at the 1:58 mark.

The Blazers were able to close the half on a 7-2 run to cut the MTSU advantage to 10 points at the half after Tony Toney hit a three.

In the second half, Middle Tennessee was able to extend their lead to 16 points with 11:41 to go after Jestin Porter knocked down a three. From there, the Blazers looked to cut into the lead.

UAB cut the Blue Raider lead to single digits after a pair of Tyren Moore free throws at the 7:28 mark. Yaxel Lendeborg's layup after the under four minute media timeout cut the lead to just five points, but UAB turned the ball over on the next two possessions and MTSU's lead extended back to nine.

With the Blazers trailing by nine and two minutes remaining, UAB went on a 6-0 run starting with a Ja'Borri McGhee three, a Lendeborg free throw and layup. Lendeborg's layup with 47 seconds remaining made it a one-possession game at 72-69.

Middle Tennessee called a timeout with 22 seconds to go and four seconds remaining on the shot clock and Essam Mostafa was able to score, putting the game out of reach. The Blue Raiders were able to hold on to win it 76-69.

NOTES

Yaxel Lendeborg scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the 23rd double-double of his career.
Ja'Borri McGhee added 16 points, scoring in double figures for the fourth time in the last five games.
The Blazers shot below 40 percent from the field for the third time this season, all three of which were losses.
UAB shot its lowest percentage from the free throw line since January 17, 2024.
The Blazers' seven assists mark the third time the team has finished with fewer than 10 assists this season.

UP NEXT
The Blazers will face Prairie View A&M on Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT at Bartow Arena.

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.

2024 BLAZERS GIVE DAY
UAB Athletics is excited to announce the third annual Blazers Give Day, a 24-hour fundraising initiative, which is set to take place on Tuesday, Dec. 3^rd. Blazer Nation is asked to collectively impact the experience of more than 450 student-athletes by directly supporting our 18 sports. Funds raised during Blazers Give Day will be directed to sport-specific gift accounts which provide the additional resources necessary for UAB coaches to continue building championship-caliber programs. To learn more about how your gift will impact the student-athlete experience at UAB, visit BlazersGiveDay2024.

FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB men's basketball team, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.