Memphis overwhelms UAB in blowout victory

The UAB Blazers dropped a critical league game on Sunday, getting dominated by Memphis 100-77 inside FedEx Forum. The Tigers shot 62 percent from the field, and 52 percent from three-point range as they drop the Blazers record to 12-8 overall and 5-2 in the AAC.

Forward Efrem ‘Butta’ Johnson led the Blazers with 21 points, 15 of which came from 5-of-9 from three-point range. His shooting from deep contributed to a solid 38 percent team three-point percentage, but it was the only place the Blazers found consistency on Sunday.

UAB senior Yaxel Lendeborg had an off day on offense going 5-of-15 from the field, but still managed to put up 16 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. On defense, he and his frontcourt partner Christian Coleman were overwhelmed by the Tigers’ duo of Dain Dainja and Nicholas Jourdain.

Dainja finished the game with 21 points and eight rebounds, with Jourdain adding 11 points and seven rebounds of his own. Paired with their interior defense, the duo led Memphis to a whopping 54 points scored in the paint compared to UAB’s 30.

Leading the game in scoring was Memphis guard PJ Haggerty, who shined with a 23-point, six rebound and nine assist performance against Andy Kennedy’s Blazers.

UAB will get a chance to make up for today’s defensive breakdown on March 2nd, when the Tigers come to Birmingham to take on the Blazers in Bartow Arena. The Blazers are back on the road this Wednesday as they face Tulsa at 7 p.m.