UAB dominated the paint as seen hear against Shockers Guard Xavier Bell. photo by Art Boone Jr
FORT WORTH, Texas – UAB men’s basketball (21-11, 12-5 AAC) advanced past Wichita State (15-19, 5-13 AAC) in the quarterfinals of the American Conference Tournament with a 72-60 win over the Shockers. Yaxel Lendeborg led the way with 18 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks while Daniel Ortiz stepped up late in the game with 16 points while shooting 4-for-7 from beyond the arc.
photo by Art Boone Jr
Both teams shot poorly in the first half as the Blazers shot only 36.8 percent from the field while the Shockers held a 36.7 mark. The margin did not increase past a one-possession game for the entire first half. Christian Coleman made his first start since December 9 at Arkansas State and delivered with 10 points and five rebounds in the first half. He scored the Blazers’ first six points to get the team out of a rocky start. The Blazers led 33-31 at the break after Eric Gaines knocked down a pair of free throws with three seconds to go.
photo by Art Boone Jr
The Shockers took their first lead of the second half on a pair of Xavier Bell free throws, but the Blazers responded immediately. On the next possession, Johnson knocked down a three while drawing a foul and Yaxel Lendeborg grabbed the offensive rebound on the free throw and hit a pair of free throws after he was fouled.
photo by Art Boone Jr
Daniel Ortiz’s three-pointer on the next possession put UAB ahead at 63-54 with 4:21 remaining in the game, the Blazers largest lead of the night. Ortiz put the game away with just over a minute to go with a three in the corner to put UAB on top, 72-60, where the score would remain. UAB advances to the American Conference Tournament semifinals on Saturday to face top-seeded South Florida.