Yaxel Lendeborg recorded 17 points and a career-high 21 rebounds to help UAB notch a 76-73 overtime upset of No. 20 Florida Atlantic on Thursday night in Birmingham, Ala.
Eric Gaines registered 16 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for the Blazers (15-8, 7-3 American Athletic Conference), who won for the fifth time in their past seven games. Efrem Johnson and Christian Coleman added 14 points apiece and Alejandro Vasquez had 13 points for UAB.
Johnell Davis had 17 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals but shot just 5 of 21 for the Owls (18-5, 8-2).
Alijah Martin added 14 points, seven rebounds and four steals and Brandon Weatherspoon scored 12 points for Florida Atlantic, which had a seven-game winning streak halted.
The Owls fell to 0-8 all-time at Bartow Arena.
In overtime, Vasquez made two free throws and Coleman followed with two baskets as the Blazers took a 73-67 lead with 2:02 left to play.
Nick Boyd drained a 3-pointer as the Owls moved within three with 1:46 left. However, UAB pushed the lead back to six on Johnson’s 3-pointer with 31.1 seconds to play.
Martin buried a 3-pointer with 13.2 seconds left as Florida Atlantic crept within 76-73. Gaines missed the front end of a one-and-one situation with 9.8 seconds remaining to give the Owls a chance to tie, but Davis and Boyd each missed 3-point attempts in the final three seconds.
The Blazers connected on 44.4 percent of their shots and were 6 of 21 (28.6 percent) from behind the arc.
Florida Atlantic shot 33.8 percent from the field but was 10 of 28 (35.7 percent) from 3-point range.
The Owls trailed by six late in regulation before Gaffney hit a 3-pointer and Davis made four throws during a 7-0 run. The last two by Davis gave Florida Atlantic a 65-64 lead with 2:14 left.
Vasquez’s basket with 1:10 left knotted the score at 67 before the contest went to overtime.
Florida Atlantic led 43-36 early in the second half before UAB went on a 12-1 spurt. Lendeborg’s inside hoop capped it and gave the Blazers a 48-44 lead with 13:11 left.
A basket by Vasquez pushed the Blazers’ lead to 62-55 with 5:33 remaining.
Davis had 10 first-half points to help Florida Atlantic hold a 39-32 halftime advantage. Gaines had 12 points before the break for UAB.
–Field Level Media
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