Blazers Battle to 64-61 Win Over North Texas

Monday, February 3

Birmingham, Ala.

8 p.m.

UAB

15-8,8-2AAC

North Texas

16-6,7-3AAC

North Texas

UAB

Photo by: Zach Irvine

Blazers Battle to 64-61 Win Over North Texas

2/4/2025 12:16:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Postgame Presser

BIRMINGHAM – UAB Men's Basketball (15-8, 8-2 AAC) was able to take down North Texas (16-6, 7-3 AAC) by a score of 64-61 on Monday night to take sole possession of second place in the American Conference standings.

Yaxel Lendeborg scored 17 points and grabbed 13 rebounds while Christian Coleman added 13 points and eight rebounds.

The game remained within eight points from start to finish as each team had to fight for every point.

North Texas made the first run of the game, building a 21-13 lead at the 9:17 mark after a 10-3 run. The Blazers answered right back with a 14-3 run of their own that was capped by a four-point possession where Ja'Borri McGhee finished a layup in transition, was fouled and then Lendeborg was able to score on the putback.

Jasper Floyd hit a turnaround jumper in the paint as time expired in the first half to cut the UAB lead to 32-31 after 20 minutes.

The Blazers built their lead to seven points early in the first half after Yaxel Lendeborg was able to find his rhythm on the offensive end, but UNT did not go away.

North Texas went on a 7-0 run to retake the lead for the first time in the second half at 49-48 with all seven points scored by Johnathan Massie.

Christian Coleman put UAB back in front and continued to make big plays for the Blazers down the stretch. Coleman and Lendeborg combined for 13 of UAB's last 15 points in the contest to help the Blazers put the game away.

North Texas cut the UAB lead to 61-59 with just over 30 seconds remaining and the Mean Green put Christian Coleman on the line with 20 seconds to go.

Coleman knocked down one of his two attempts as the second one rattled out. UNT then went to the line with 11 seconds left and they hit both to cut the lead to just 62-61.

The Mean Green then put Yaxel Lendeborg on the free throw line with nine seconds left and he comfortably knocked down both of his free throws to push the lead to three. UAB was able to prevent UNT from getting a clean look off in the final seconds to hang on for the 64-61 win.

NOTES

The Blazers' 64 points are their fewest in a win since February 26, 2021 against UTSA.
Yaxel Lendeborg recorded his 15^th double-double of the season with 17 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Christian Coleman made a difference for the Blazers with 13 points, eight rebounds and two blocks on the night.
UAB has grabbed double-digit offensive rebounds in 12-straight games and 21 of 23 games this season.
Each of the last seven meetings with North Texas have been decided by single-digits.
The Blazers have won eight of their last nine games.

UP NEXT
After playing four games over the last nine days, the Blazers will not play again until Tuesday, February 11 at East Carolina. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPNU.

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