UAB Downs North Texas to Advance to AAC Title Game

Saturday, March 15

Fort Worth, Texas

4 p.m.

UAB

22-11,13-5AAC

North Texas

24-8,14-4AAC

UAB

North Texas

Photo by: Mario Terrana

UAB Downs North Texas to Advance to AAC Title Game

3/15/2025 9:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Postgame Presser

FORT WORTH, Texas – Yaxel Lendeborg had 23 points, 13 rebounds and four assists to lead UAB men's basketball (22-11) past North Texas (24-8) by a score of 66-56. The Blazers advanced to their fourth straight conference tournament championship game.

UAB opened up a 6-2 lead over the first three minutes of the game, but the Mean Green were not allowing the Blazers to get any easy looks. North Texas battled back and took their first lead as the 12:13 mark as Brenen Lorient scored to make it 9-8.

Ja'Borri McGhee sparked the UAB offense in the first half by getting into the lane and finishing through contact. He scored 10 of his 16 points in the first half. With the game tied at 17, McGhee scored on back-to-back possessions to spark an 8-0 Blazer run to make it 25-17 with 2:21 remaining the half.

The Blazers held UNT to just three points over the final 5:49 of the first half and closed the period outscoring the Mean Green 13-3. Tyren Moore capped the half with a three to end the period at 30-20.

After stubbing his toe in the first half, Yaxel Lendeborg took over the second half. He scored 17 of his 23 points after the break while shooting 5-for-6 from the field over the final 20 minutes. After a UNT free throw, Lendeborg buried a triple on the Blazers' first possession to make it a 12-point game.

The Blazers' largest lead of the night came with 14:20 remaining after Lendeborg knocked down a midrange jumper to make it 41-25. North Texas, however, quickly responded with their first two three-point field goals of the night, cutting the lead back to just 10 points.

The Mean Green cut the UAB lead to single digits with a three-point play and a three on back-to-back possessions to make it 47-41. Yaxel Lendeborg responded by taking the ball coast-to-coast for a dunk to preserve the lead.

UAB got its lead back to 10 points on a dunk by Bradley Ezewiro with 5:14 remaining to force a North Texas timeout.

Brenen Lorient scored back-to-back buckets to help UNT cut into the UAB lead with the second coming on a block by Lendeborg that deflected off of Lorient back through the hoop. An Atin Wright layup on the next possession made it a four-point game with 2:52 remaining.

The Mean Green had the momentum, and the Blazers were struggling to get a shot off, but Ja'Borri McGhee launched a deep three as the shot clock was expiring and hit it to put UAB up by seven. Lendeborg was able to get downhill for a layup to give UAB a nine point lead with 1:44 left.

Alejandro Vasquez sealed the game with a dunk to give the Blazers the 66-56 win and advance to the American Conference Tournament final.

NOTES

The Blazers have advanced to the conference championship game for the fourth straight season.
Andy Kennedy earned his 123^rd win at UAB, passing Mike Davis for second in program history.
Yaxel Lendeborg scored 23 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, dished out four assists, blocked two shots and had two steals.
Ja'Borri McGhee scored 16 points, grabbed six rebounds and had four assists in the win.

UP NEXT
The Blazers will face top-seeded Memphis on Sunday afternoon in the American Conference Championship game. Tipoff is set for 2:15 p.m. CT on ESPN.

BLAZER BOOSTERS
As we launch into the 2025 giving year, we encourage you to further your support across UAB Athletics and help the Blazers reach new heights in the American Athletic Conference. For more information on ways to show your generosity to Blazer student athletes through the Blazer Scholarship Fund, capital initiatives, and sport specific giving go to blazerboosters.com or call us at (205) 996-9969.

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