McGhee and Ezewiro pace Blazers to rout of AuM

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - November 19, 2024

UAB walk-on Ryan Donohoo’s logo 3-pointer and ensuing celebration was perhaps the most memorable moment from lopsided win over Division II Auburn-Montgomery on Monday night. But it was newcomers Ja’Borri McGhee and Bradley Ezewiro who largely provided the meat-and-potatoes of the 109-64 victory over the Warhawks at Bartow Arena.

McGhee, a junior college transfer, who started at point guard in all five games this season, finished with 25 points, four rebounds, six assists, two steals and three turnovers in just over 22 minutes. He was 10-of-14 from the field, 1-of-3 on 3-pointers and hit all four of his free throws. Ezewiro got his first UAB double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Afterward, UAB head coach Andy Kennedy said that it was the best game in a UAB uniform for McGhee and Ezewiro. For McGhee, it came just three days after he struggled in a loss at High Point.

“He's only five games into this (Division I basketball) journey,” Kennedy said of McGhee. “So for him to see the ball go in the basket (was big). I thought he was really loose with the ball, (committing) three turnovers. The 18 turnovers (as a team) was just ridiculous. But 25 points, four rebounds, six assists, I think was good. I thought him and Brad Ezewiro, it was their best game. At least they did what they're supposed to do, physically dominating against the team that you should be physically dominating against. It was good to see.”

McGhee, a McComb, Mississippi native, who played his final two seasons of high school basketball and football at Winfield City High in Alabama, comes to UAB after junior college stops at Garden City (Kansas) Community College and South Plains College in Texas. He averaged 7.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in his first four Division I games. He took an important step forward on Monday.

“It helps a lot,” McGhee said of the confidence building outing. “Like Coach (Kennedy) said, I’m only in my fifth game. He always told me when it starts, it’s gonna be like trying to learn to ride a bike all over. Right now, I’m just on the (shot) trainer trying to figure it out, but also trying to be my best personal self for the team. You know, kind of be the best I can on the court and also doing little things as well. Having a night like this after coming off a game like High Point kind of helped a lot. I hope it's just build on it (and) keep going.”

Christian Coleman also bounced back after contributing just two points, both coming on free throws, and one rebound in the loss at High Point. On Monday, Coleman returned to form with 16 points, on 8 of 11 shooting from the field, nine rebounds and three steals.

“He's our energy guy,” Kennedy said. “I think his energy was contagious tonight. I thought he got out and made some plays, finished at the basket, did a lot of good things. You can't go up and score no field goals and (get) no defense rebounds, we're not gonna win. Your role is important to us. I think he was averaging like 13 and 10 going into the deal. Okay, we might not have to have 13 and 10 to win, but we can't have two and one. He has to understand the importance that he has is his role now that it has elevated.”

By plan, Yaxel Lendeborg spent most of Monday night facilitating and getting others involved. He finished with eight points, eight rebounds, five assists, four steals, three blocks and two turnovers in  a season low 22 minutes and 47 seconds.

Then, at the end, with the outcome long decided, Kennedy cleared his bench. Marquis Hargrove, who redshirted last season, hit a pair of 3-pointers in his first action this season. Donohoo was 0 for 5 on 3-pointers n six appearances over three seasons before breaking through on Monday.

“It's a big-time moment, man,” McGhee said. “(They) don't really get those a lot. And them  guys, they go at it hard in practice. Even some days when we’re slacking, they’re still going hard. They push us a lot. They don't know how much they mean to us, but we really appreciate them a lot. And for them to see them get out there tonight and smile and have fun, I mean, that was big time. We're probably going to talk about that for a while.”

UAB transitions now into a trip to the Virgin Islands to play in the Paradise Jam. The Blazers will play three games in the tournament with a first round matchup against unbeaten Longwood on Friday at 11:30 a.m. CT.