Blazers Fall at the Buzzer at North Texas

Tuesday, December 31

Denton, Texas

3 p.m.

UAB

7-7,0-1AAC

North Texas

10-3,1-0AAC

UAB

North Texas

Photo by: Mario Terrana

Blazers Fall at the Buzzer at North Texas

12/31/2024 6:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

DENTON, Texas – It was a tale of two halves on Tuesday as UAB men's basketball (7-7, 0-1 AAC) fell to North Texas (10-3, 1-0 AAC) by a score of 78-75 as Atin Wright hit a three from the top of the key as the clock expired.

After the Blazers dominated the first 20 minutes, the Mean Green responded with a commanding second half to take the win in the conference opener.

The Blazers shot a scorching 63.6 percent from three in the first half with Tyren Moore knocking down three over the first 20 minutes and Alejandro Vasquez added two. UAB also was able to get to the free throw line at a high rate, shooting 15-for-16 from the line before the break.

UAB took control of the game midway through the half. Leading 31-24 at the 7:37 mark, the Blazers went on a 12-2 run that included eight points from Alejandro Vasquez to extend their lead to 17 with just over three minutes remaining in the half.

The Blazers' lead extended to as many as 18 points and UAB led 48-31 at the break.

North Texas came out in the second half on a 13-2 run to cut into the UAB lead immediately. Atin Wright cut the lead to single digits for the first time with 13:46 remaining with a pair of free throws.

Wright and Latrell Jossell each had big nights for North Texas as Wright finished with 22 points and Jossell had a career high 20.

Jossell cut the lead to just three with 10:35 to go with a three-pointer and Lorient added a free throw on the next possession to make it a two-point game, but Tony Toney knocked down a three to push the lead back to five.

Later at the very last second of the shot clock, Ja'Borri McGhee hit a three to put the Blazers up 66-60 with 8:27 to go. Over the next five minutes, the Mean Green outscored the Blazers 13-3 to take a four-point advantage at 73-69 with 3:12 remaining.

Efrem "Butta" Johnson was clutch for the Blazers down the stretch. He was fouled on a three-point attempt and hit all three free throws to make it a one-point game a few possessions later.

Wright was put on the free throw line and hit both of his attempts with 41 seconds to go to put the UNT lead at 75-72. On the Blazers' possession, Johnson knocked down a three from the wing to tie the game with 21 seconds remaining.

As the clock was winding down, the Blazers forced Atin Wright into a tightly contested three from the top of the key, but he was able to knock it down to win it for North Texas, 78-75.

NOTES

The Blazers' 48 points in the first half match the most allowed by the Mean Green in a half this season.
UAB knocked down 10 threes in a game for the third time this season.
Yaxel Lendeborg added 12 points and 11 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season.
Alejandro Vasquez added 15 points including a 5-for-5 mark from the free throw line.

UP NEXT
The Blazers will host Tulsa on Saturday, January 4 at 1 p.m. CT at Bartow Arena.

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