The UAB basketball team failed to score from the field in the final eight-plus minutes of its AAC home opener but lockdown defense and precision free-throw shooting allowed the impossible to become possible.

The Blazers continue to play it close to the vest as they survive a late cold shooting spell for a 75-71 victory over South Florida, Sunday, Jan. 7, at Bartow Arena in Birmingham.

“Welcome to the American Conference,” UAB head coach Andy Kennedy said. “A lot of people put in a lot of effort to make this a reality. Play a quality team, had a good crowd and everything came down to a possession here and a possession there. That’s what we anticipated.”

UAB (10-5, 2-0 AAC) entered the game at 215 in the NCAA NET rankings and improved its winning streak to six games overall following the Quad 3 win over the Bulls.

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The Blazers shot 40 percent overall and were 5-of-16 on 3-pointers and 30-of-41 at the charity stripe. UAB gave up nine turnovers, resulting in eight points, and allowed the Bulls to shoot 44.8 percent from the field while earning a plus-4 advantage on interior scoring and a plus-4 edge in rebounding.

“In the second half we did a much better job,” Kennedy said. “We did a good job of doing the things that have allowed us to be sitting here now on our own six-game winning streak. That is get to the free-throw line and convert and win the rebounding battle.”

Yaxel Lendeborg secured his third straight and sixth double-double of the season by posting 23 points, 15 rebounds and a block and steal. In the past three games, Lendeborg has averaged 23.3 points and 15 rebounds and made a career-high five 3-pointers in UAB’s win at UTSA.

He did not attempt a 3-point shot against the Bulls.

“I want him to play the game,” Kennedy said. “There are times when you have to take what the defense gives you. Despite him making 5-of-6 in the last game, I thought they were cushioning him again. I still see a lot of fruit on the vine for him. He’s really emerged for us.”

Alejandro Vasquez shrugged off a recent slump, in which he failed to score in double digits for five straight games, and finished with 17 points on 5-of-12 shooting and 3-of-6 from range.

“It’s more mentality tough more than physical,” Vasquez said. “It feels good, man. I’ve been staying to myself, staying in the gym and trusting myself. I put the work in and got the outcome for it.”

Vasquez dropped back-to-back triples during an 8-0 run to build UAB’s largest lead at 62-52 with 8:42 remaining in the game.

“They were giving me too much space,” he said. “I just took the action and took what they gave me. I try to be prepared and have been working in that area.”

South Florida held a slim advantage throughout the first 15 minutes of action until the Blazers hit a 10-3 run in the closing minutes of the first half to take a 34-27 lead with 2:31 left in the frame. South Florida’s Kobe Knox and Jayden Reid each knocked in a 3-pointer in the final two minutes to trim the deficit to a single point entering the halftime break.

The Blazers opened up the second half with a 4-0 spurt and Vasquez answered a South Florida triple with one of his own to cap a 7-2 run. South Florida countered with a 9-1 run to retake a 46-44 lead but held it for only a few seconds as Daniel Oritz put UAB back on top with his only 3-pointer of the game.

Lendeborg and Vasquez combined on the ensuing 18-6 run, building a 10-point advantage, but Efrem “Butta” Johnson’s layup with 8:42 remaining proved to be the final field goal of the game for the Blazers.

“That was not the plan,” Kennedy quipped.

The Bulls used a 15-4 run to take their final lead at 67-66 with 3:21 left but UAB held South Florida to a 4:47 field goal drought and finished 9-of-10 from the line to secure the win.

“It’s just normal for us,” Kennedy said. “I don’t anticipate a loss of poise. We don’t execute great all the time and we do foolish things. Our biggest issue with this team is our lack of communication. We’re always in a reactionary mode because we don’t talk our way through it.”

Johnson had 10 points, four rebounds and three assists, followed by Christian Coleman and Javian Davis, who both had six points while combining for 11 rebounds. Ortiz had five points and two boards, and Eric Gaines and Tony Toney had four points each.

The Blazers hit the road to face No. 17 Florida Atlantic, Sunday, Jan. 14, at Baldwin Arena in Boca Raton. Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. CT on ESPN+.