The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Wednesday, February 21
Birmingham, Ala.
7 p.m.
UAB
vs
Rice
Photo by: Sully Ortega
Men’s Basketball Hosts Rice on Wednesday Night
2/20/2024 5:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM - UAB men's basketball will host Rice on Wednesday at Bartow Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT.
WATCH
Wednesday night's game will stream live on ESPN+ with Curt Bloom and Mo Finley on the call.
LISTEN
David Crane and Steve Mitchell will call the game for UAB on 100.5 ESPN JOX 2.
SERIES HISTORY
UAB leads the all-time series 21-3 after defeating the Owls in all three meetings last season. The teams last met in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA tournament where the Blazers advanced with an 87-60 win.
LAST TIME OUT
The Blazers won their ninth straight home game on Sunday against North Texas, 71-62. Yaxel Lendeborg led the way with a career high 26 points, eight rebounds and four blocks while Javian Davis and Efrem "Butta" Johnson each added 10 points. UAB led by as many as 18 points in the second half.
SMOOTH LIKE "BUTTA"
Efrem "Butta" Johnson averaged 3.5 points and 1.3 rebounds per game last year while shooting 37.8 percent from beyond the arc and has taken on a much larger role in year two. Johnson scored 17 points against Clemson early this season while adding three rebounds and three assists. Johnson stepped up once again in the clutch against UTSA, scoring the final 10 points, including the game-winner with two seconds to go. "Butta" put up 15 points and dished out a career high six assists in a win over Tulane before matching his career high of 18 against North Texas. The sophomore guard scored a career best 20 points on the road at SMU before hitting a dagger three against No. 20 Florida Atlantic in overtime.
LENDEBORG'S JOURNEY TO UAB
Yaxel Lendeborg joined the Blazers after a standout JUCO career as a two-time NJCAA All-American. The Pennsauken, N.J. native only played 11 games of high school basketball but found his way on to the roster at Arizona Western. The 6'9" forward led NJCAA DI in rebounding in back-to-back seasons after averaging 17.2 points and 13.0 rebounds per game last year. Lendeborg was born in Puerto Rico and played with the Dominican Republic Select National Team.
GET TO THE LINE
The Blazers are one of the best teams in the country at getting to the charity stripe. UAB is tied for 11th in the nation in free throws made per game at 18.0 while ranking 19th nationally in free throw attempts per game with 23.9. UAB shoots free throws at a 75.3 percent clip which ranks 50th in the country and second in the American Conference.
CRASH THE BOARDS
The Blazers finished the 2022-23 season at No. 2 in the NCAA in rebounds per game at 40.9 and No. 5 in offensive rebounds per game at 13.5 and are once again a top-100 rebounding team. UAB is tied for 59th nationally, grabbing 38.5 rebounds per game. The Blazers excel on the offensive glass, grabbing 13.1 offensive boards per game, which ranks 25th in the nation. Yaxel Lendeborg leads the Blazers in rebounding, grabbing 10.0 per game. He has grabbed 15 or more rebounds in seven games this season, including a 21-rebound game vs. Florida Atlantic which ranks second in program history.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Throughout its history, the UAB men's basketball program has seen incredible success in Birmingham, holding a 445-109 record in Bartow Arena since the Blazers' on-campus home opened back in 1988. That success has continued with Andy Kennedy returning to his alma mater, as the fourth year UAB head coach holds a 59-9 record at home (Bartow and Legacy Arena) since taking over the program.
POWER UP
UAB Athletics is excited to officially 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 complete 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.
WATCH
Wednesday night's game will stream live on ESPN+ with Curt Bloom and Mo Finley on the call.
LISTEN
David Crane and Steve Mitchell will call the game for UAB on 100.5 ESPN JOX 2.
SERIES HISTORY
UAB leads the all-time series 21-3 after defeating the Owls in all three meetings last season. The teams last met in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA tournament where the Blazers advanced with an 87-60 win.
LAST TIME OUT
The Blazers won their ninth straight home game on Sunday against North Texas, 71-62. Yaxel Lendeborg led the way with a career high 26 points, eight rebounds and four blocks while Javian Davis and Efrem "Butta" Johnson each added 10 points. UAB led by as many as 18 points in the second half.
SMOOTH LIKE "BUTTA"
Efrem "Butta" Johnson averaged 3.5 points and 1.3 rebounds per game last year while shooting 37.8 percent from beyond the arc and has taken on a much larger role in year two. Johnson scored 17 points against Clemson early this season while adding three rebounds and three assists. Johnson stepped up once again in the clutch against UTSA, scoring the final 10 points, including the game-winner with two seconds to go. "Butta" put up 15 points and dished out a career high six assists in a win over Tulane before matching his career high of 18 against North Texas. The sophomore guard scored a career best 20 points on the road at SMU before hitting a dagger three against No. 20 Florida Atlantic in overtime.
LENDEBORG'S JOURNEY TO UAB
Yaxel Lendeborg joined the Blazers after a standout JUCO career as a two-time NJCAA All-American. The Pennsauken, N.J. native only played 11 games of high school basketball but found his way on to the roster at Arizona Western. The 6'9" forward led NJCAA DI in rebounding in back-to-back seasons after averaging 17.2 points and 13.0 rebounds per game last year. Lendeborg was born in Puerto Rico and played with the Dominican Republic Select National Team.
GET TO THE LINE
The Blazers are one of the best teams in the country at getting to the charity stripe. UAB is tied for 11th in the nation in free throws made per game at 18.0 while ranking 19th nationally in free throw attempts per game with 23.9. UAB shoots free throws at a 75.3 percent clip which ranks 50th in the country and second in the American Conference.
CRASH THE BOARDS
The Blazers finished the 2022-23 season at No. 2 in the NCAA in rebounds per game at 40.9 and No. 5 in offensive rebounds per game at 13.5 and are once again a top-100 rebounding team. UAB is tied for 59th nationally, grabbing 38.5 rebounds per game. The Blazers excel on the offensive glass, grabbing 13.1 offensive boards per game, which ranks 25th in the nation. Yaxel Lendeborg leads the Blazers in rebounding, grabbing 10.0 per game. He has grabbed 15 or more rebounds in seven games this season, including a 21-rebound game vs. Florida Atlantic which ranks second in program history.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Throughout its history, the UAB men's basketball program has seen incredible success in Birmingham, holding a 445-109 record in Bartow Arena since the Blazers' on-campus home opened back in 1988. That success has continued with Andy Kennedy returning to his alma mater, as the fourth year UAB head coach holds a 59-9 record at home (Bartow and Legacy Arena) since taking over the program.
POWER UP
UAB Athletics is excited to officially 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 complete 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
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