Vasquez Big In Blazers win over Wichita State, setting up Huge rematch with Memphis

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - February 28, 2025

Alejandro Vasquez started Thursday night’s visit to Wichita State on the bench. In this case, it certainly wasn’t how he started but how he finished that was the story in UAB’s critical 80-72 American Athletic Conference victory over the red-hot Shockers at Charles Koch Arena.

Vasquez finished by tying a career high with 29 points, with 18 coming in the second half, on a night that the Blazers never trailed after halftime while snapping a six-game Wichita State win streak. Vasquez was 11-of-22 from the field, 1-of-4 on 3-pointers and 6-of-6 from the free throw line. He added two rebounds, two assists, a block, a steal and no turnovers in 33 minutes. He had a point differential of plus-24 when he was on the floor and was the biggest reason that UAB outscored Wichita State, 42-3, in bench points.

And the reason he didn’t start had nothing to do with how he played the past three games as a starter.

“You know I went back, just psychologically, I started Butta (Johnson),” said UAB head coach Andy Kennedy during his postgame chat with David Crane on Blazer Sports Network from Learfield. “I kind of flip those guys just to try to give them a different Feng shui. And it worked for AJ early, I think. He made his first five shots. The only shot he missed in the first half was the shot at the end of the half that we got him to a pull up (jumper). It's the only miss that he had, so I started him in the second half and I don't think I took him out of the game. I think he played the entire 20 minutes. He was by far our MVP stepped up in a big, big way for us on the road (in the) huge win.”

He certainly played a big role in the first half to help UAB (19-9 overall, 12-3 AAC) take a 39-34 lead at halftime. He also played a key role in a 13-1 UAB run that turned a 45-43 lead with 16:50 left into a 58-44 advantage with 11:43 remaining.

UAB also got solid production from the frontcourt of Yaxel Lendeborg, Bradley Ezewiro and Christian Coleman, who combined for 36 points and 18 rebounds. Lendeborg failed to extend his streak of double-double performances to 10 games but he did fill a stat sheet with 11 points, eight rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks. Ezewiro and Coleman combined for 17 points in the second half with Coleman hitting 6-of-7 from the free throw line.

“I think any coach in the country will take 36-18 along his front line,” Kennedy said. “I thought Brad was tremendous early, as Chris was not really in it. I thought in the second half when Brad picked up his fourth foul, I went to Chris and he responded like you want a senior to (respond).”

UAB also produced big things defensively with Kennedy switching up the looks. The Blazers forced seven of Wichita State’s 17 turnovers while using the 1-3-1 trapping zone with Coleman playing up top.

“I think it was really effective for us,” Kennedy said. “Chris with great length at the top and I thought we were aggressive out of our wings. We’re going to mix and match, we’re going to change our looks and we’re going to see what works. Tonight, (the 1-3-1) was effective.”

Wichita State had the advantage in several key categories, most notably rebounds (42-32), offensive rebounds (16-11), second chance points (17-14) and points in the paint (44-36). But the Blazers outscored Wichita State, 26-13, in points off turnovers, which was huge.

UAB can now look toward Sunday’s game against first place Memphis at Bartow Arena. The Blazers and North Texas are each a game behind Memphis with three games left to play in the regular season. Memphis beat UAB, 100-77, on Jan. 26 at the FedExForum. Kennedy left no doubt on what he wanted to see on Sunday.

“I told our guys, so don't make me a liar Blazer fans, I said you're about to go back and play in front of a sold out Bartow Arena and fight for first place in the AAC,” Kennedy said on his postgame radio appearance. “Can’t get much better than that. So let's make sure Bartow is packed Sunday at 3 o'clock against the Tigers.”