The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Friday, March 15
Fort Worth, Texas
2 p.m.
UAB
vs
Wichita State
Photo by: Ken Shepherd
Men's Basketball Opens Play at AAC Tournament on Friday
3/14/2024 11:18:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM - UAB men's basketball will take on Wichita State in the quarterfinals of the American Conference Tournament in Fort Worth, Texas on Friday. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT.
WATCH
Friday's game will air on ESPN2 with Mike Corey and Perry Clark on the call.
LISTEN
David Crane and Mo Finley will call the game for the Blazers on 100.5 ESPN JOX 2.
SERIES HISTORY
The Blazers will make their AAC Tournament debut on Friday after earning the No. 4 seed. The Blazers dropped its first meeting with Wichita State this season, 74-66, and UAB is 0-5 all-time against the Shockers. In the first meeting this season, Wichita State led by as many as 19 points in the second half before Yaxel Lendeborg brought the Blazers back into the game with a 20-point, 15-rebound performance, but the comeback attempt fell just short.
LAST TIME OUT
UAB put together an impressive comeback victory over SMU on Sunday to secure a top-four seed in the American Conference Tournament. The Blazers won 74-70 after trailing by as many as 14 points in the second half. Eric Gaines matched his career high of 22 points and had six steals while Christian Coleman recorded his first collegiate double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
LENDEBORG NAMED DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR, FIRST TEAM ALL-AAC
After a standout debut season in Birmingham, forward Yaxel Lendeborg was named AAC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference. Lendeborg is UAB's first Conference Defensive Player of the Year since William Lee in 2016-17 and he joins Squeaky Johnson and Cameron Moore as the only Blazers to earn first team All-Conference and Defensive Player of the Year honors in the same season.
STEPPING UP
Highlight-reel plays marked Eric Gaines' first season in Birmingham with two SportsCenter Top Ten appearances and numerous high-flying dunks. After averaging 11.5 points and 4.3 assists per game, Gaines has played an even larger role this year as the only returning player to average double-digit points per game last season. Gaines has upped his scoring numbers while maintaining his defensive prowess this season for UAB, averaging 12.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.3 steals per game. He scored 17 points and dished out 10 assists in a win over Temple, his third 10-assist outing of the year. Gaines is tied for No. 32 in the nation with 5.4 assists per game.
HIGH ENERGY, HIGH IMPACT
Christian Coleman has made a major impact for the Blazers late in the season, putting together some of his best performances. Coleman had a career high with 19 points and seven rebounds in UAB's win over Temple. He followed that up with his first collegiate double-double in the Blazers' comeback win over SMU with 16 points and 10 rebounds. The junior forward is shooting .544 from the field and averaging 7.2 points and 4.6 rebounds this season.
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 eighth in the nation in free throws made per game at 17.8 while ranking 13th nationally in free throw attempts per game with 23.7. UAB shoots free throws at a 75.1 percent clip which ranks 54th in the country and second in the American Conference.
2024-25 SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2024-25 UAB men's basketball season are now available. Season ticket packages will feature all home games during the 2024-25 basketball season and provide the most cost-effective way to attend games at Bartow Arena. Fans may purchase new season tickets or request more information on season ticket options here. Season ticket renewal applications will be available in the coming month leading into the September 1, 2024 men's basketball priority seat deadline. For more information about season ticket pricing, call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1.
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
Friday's game will air on ESPN2 with Mike Corey and Perry Clark on the call.
LISTEN
David Crane and Mo Finley will call the game for the Blazers on 100.5 ESPN JOX 2.
SERIES HISTORY
The Blazers will make their AAC Tournament debut on Friday after earning the No. 4 seed. The Blazers dropped its first meeting with Wichita State this season, 74-66, and UAB is 0-5 all-time against the Shockers. In the first meeting this season, Wichita State led by as many as 19 points in the second half before Yaxel Lendeborg brought the Blazers back into the game with a 20-point, 15-rebound performance, but the comeback attempt fell just short.
LAST TIME OUT
UAB put together an impressive comeback victory over SMU on Sunday to secure a top-four seed in the American Conference Tournament. The Blazers won 74-70 after trailing by as many as 14 points in the second half. Eric Gaines matched his career high of 22 points and had six steals while Christian Coleman recorded his first collegiate double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
LENDEBORG NAMED DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR, FIRST TEAM ALL-AAC
After a standout debut season in Birmingham, forward Yaxel Lendeborg was named AAC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference. Lendeborg is UAB's first Conference Defensive Player of the Year since William Lee in 2016-17 and he joins Squeaky Johnson and Cameron Moore as the only Blazers to earn first team All-Conference and Defensive Player of the Year honors in the same season.
STEPPING UP
Highlight-reel plays marked Eric Gaines' first season in Birmingham with two SportsCenter Top Ten appearances and numerous high-flying dunks. After averaging 11.5 points and 4.3 assists per game, Gaines has played an even larger role this year as the only returning player to average double-digit points per game last season. Gaines has upped his scoring numbers while maintaining his defensive prowess this season for UAB, averaging 12.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.3 steals per game. He scored 17 points and dished out 10 assists in a win over Temple, his third 10-assist outing of the year. Gaines is tied for No. 32 in the nation with 5.4 assists per game.
HIGH ENERGY, HIGH IMPACT
Christian Coleman has made a major impact for the Blazers late in the season, putting together some of his best performances. Coleman had a career high with 19 points and seven rebounds in UAB's win over Temple. He followed that up with his first collegiate double-double in the Blazers' comeback win over SMU with 16 points and 10 rebounds. The junior forward is shooting .544 from the field and averaging 7.2 points and 4.6 rebounds this season.
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 eighth in the nation in free throws made per game at 17.8 while ranking 13th nationally in free throw attempts per game with 23.7. UAB shoots free throws at a 75.1 percent clip which ranks 54th in the country and second in the American Conference.
2024-25 SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2024-25 UAB men's basketball season are now available. Season ticket packages will feature all home games during the 2024-25 basketball season and provide the most cost-effective way to attend games at Bartow Arena. Fans may purchase new season tickets or request more information on season ticket options here. Season ticket renewal applications will be available in the coming month leading into the September 1, 2024 men's basketball priority seat deadline. For more information about season ticket pricing, call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1.
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
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
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