Yaxel Lendeborg led UAB to a 97-88 American Athletic Conference victory at Birmingham, Alabama on Sunday, extending Memphis’ losing streak to three games. Lendeborg finished with 23 points and 16 rebounds.
Lendeborg became just the third player in conference history to pull down ten offensive rebounds. For just the second time in 16 attempts, the Blazers (13-7, 5-2 AAC) defeated a ranked Memphis squad with four assists from him.
Efrem Johnson and reserve Daniel Ortiz each scored 12 points, while Eric Gaines contributed 20 points. With 10 points from Javian Davis, UAB overcame 21 mistakes to win 40–32 in the rebounding department and make 59.3% of their second-half attempts.
Memphis (15-5, 4-3)’s David Jones scored a game-high 24 points, but he also made nine turnovers. Jahvon Quinerly scored 12 points, although he only made 4 of his 15 shots go in. Malcolm Dandridge contributed 19 points. Nae’Qwan Tomlin scored twelve as well.
Due to the Tigers’ careless play, which resulted in 22 turnovers, the Blazers were able to score 26 points. And as the game went on, their shooting became colder. Even though UAB failed to hit a field goal in the last 5:12, they only made 17 of their 40 attempts in the second half, leaving them in a hole of 15 points that they were unable to close.
For Memphis, it was a feast or famine moment. In addition to making its first eight field goals, it handled the ball with such care that UAB was able to hang on thanks to five early turnovers.
In the first half, the Tigers led by six points three times, but the Blazers were able to fight back by grabbing rebounds and drawing 14 foul shots, of which they made 11. During the half, Lendeborg contributed significantly, scoring 16 points, grabbing nine rebounds, and making all six of his free throws.
But Gaines, who had two seconds remaining and made the final shot to cap off an 11-point half, was the one who sent UAB to the locker room ahead 45-44.