Lendeborg Fills Stat Sheet In LEading Blazers Past Tulane

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - January 8, 2025

The numbers that Yaxel Lendeborg put together during Tuesday’s 81-69 American Athletic Conference victory over Tulane jumped off the page of the stat sheet.

Lendeborg scored 25 points and was an efficient 11-of-13 from the floor. He made his only 3-point attempt, had two steals and two blocked shots and the Blazers were plus-19 when he was on the floor. He had 13 rebounds and eight assists, which left him just short of UAB’s first triple-double since Paul Delaney III pulled off the feat with 16 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds against Tulane on Feb. 4, 2009.

So how did UAB head coach Andy Kennedy react to Lendeborg’s productive night?

“I expect more, isn't it stupid of me?” Kennedy said after his team improved to 9-7 overall and 2-1 in AAC play. “It's just stupid, man. I just want him to be more assertive. I feel like he gives in to contact sometimes. Now, he plays in the area of the floor that's mucked up. It's just a lot of people in that lane area, especially against this zone, but if you can get in there and play through it, then you have an advantage at the basket.”

There were times, particularly in the first half, when Lendeborg played with an assertiveness that had to please his coach. At one point, he scored nine of his team’s points in a 12-2 run that gave UAB its first lead of the night. By halftime, he had 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists to propel UAB to a 46-38 lead.

Afterward, Lendeborg was asked what he thinks it looks like when he is following his coach’s directions to play more assertive.

“To be honest, I still can't tell you,” Lendeborg said. “I feel like I haven't been as assertive as he expects me to be. He wants me to take 30 shots a game. I feel like I'm not that kind of player. I like to let the flow of the game just go. Last game, (Alejandro Vasquez) had 27 points. I don't want to get in the way of that. I don't want to just go out there and try to get a rebound if you miss it. I don't want to take the extra shot. So he's really been harping on me about being more assertive.”

It was also a good idea to get the ball to Tony Toney on Tuesday night. The 6-foot-2 senior set a career high with five 3-pointers with all 11 of his shots coming from outside the arc. He hit back-to-back 3-pointers to cap a 9-0 run that turned a three-point lead into a 71-59 advantage with 3:50 remaining. Tulane (8-8 overall, 2-1 AAC) never recovered.

“It's surreal because you guys wouldn't expect it,” Lendeborg said. “You guys expect him to be the energy guy, just playing defense. So when he's knocking down shots, it really opens everything up for everybody else.”

UAB came into Tuesday’s game leading the nation in fastbreak points but were outscored, 11-9, in that category by the Green Wave. A key for UAB in the win was the Blazers had more offensive rebounds (13-5) and second chance points (17-6). Efrem “Butta” Johnson (11 points, three assists, three rebounds, three steals) and Ja’Borri McGhee (11 points, three rebounds, two assists, four steals) were the other double-digit scorers for the Blazers.

The Blazers now have a two-game road trip to Florida with games against FAU on Saturday and South Florida next Wednesday.