Birmingham, Ala. – UAB used a late 17-4 run to erase a four-point deficit as the Blazers edged Furman, 92-86, in non-conference men's basketball action Saturday night at Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Ala.
 
The Paladins held a 75-71 lead with under 7:30 remaining when UAB's Yaxel Lendeborg, who led the Blazers with 19 points, scored in the paint before Furman's Cooper Bowser was whistled for an illegal screen. The UAB basket marked the first of seven consecutive successful field goal attempts for the Blazers. UAB's Alejandro Vasquez took advantage of the Bowser turnover with a basket that knotted the game at 75-75, but Carter Whitt put the Paladins back in front, 77-75, with a floater with 6:19 remaining. 
 
After the teams traded turnovers, Lendeborg scored to even the game and start a 13-2 spurt. Furman missed its next three shots and the Paladins committed three turnovers during UAB's run that gave the Blazers an 88-79 advantage with 2:25 left when Tony Toney drained a three and Lendeborg followed a turnover with a bucket.
 
Furman reeled off five straight points to trim the deficit to 88-84 with over a minute remaining, but the Blazers converted on 4-of-5 trips to the foul line in the final 45 seconds to preserve the lead and hold off the Paladin rally.
 
Lendeborg hit on 8-of-10 shots from floor and added 10 rebounds to post a double-double while Javian Davis added 17 points and six boards before fouling out. Eric Gaines scored 13 points, Vasquez netted 12, and Daniel Ortiz finished with 10 off the bench to round out UAB's double figure scorers.
 
The Blazers (4-2) shot 58.6% from the field on the night and connected on 19-of-23 trips to the charity stripe. Furman shot 50.8%, including an 11-for-25 effort behind the arc while converting on 15-of-23 trips to the line.
 
Marcus Foster, 9-for-16 from the field and 7-for-7 at the line, led the Paladins with 27 points. PJay Smith scored a season-high 15 points while Tyrese Hughey contributed a season-best 14 points and team-high five rebounds. Playing in his first game since opening night, Alex Williams finished with 12 points.
 
The Paladins (3-3) return home to Timmons Arena to host South Carolina State on Tuesday, November 28, at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here.