Following thrilling victory after thrilling, one last nailbiter to put the UAB Blazers in the NIT semifinals came up short.

The UAB Blazers’ 2024-25 season came to a close on Wednesday night, losing 81-77 in overtime to UC Irvine in the quarterfinal round of the NIT. They end the season with a 24-13 record overall.

The Blazers missed multiple opportunities late, with forward Yaxel Lendeborg missing two contested shots that would have tied the game with under four seconds in overtime.

Lendeborg, finished off what is likely his last collegiate game with a 13 point-17 rebound double-double, his 25th of the season which is tied for first in D-I basketball.

The other member of UAB’s frontcourt, Christian Coleman, was the most efficient player on the floor for the Blazers against the Anteaters. Coleman shot 9-of-18 from the floor, scoring 21 points, grabbing 14 rebounds and recording two assists.

The only player to score more than Coleman tonight was UC Irvine’s Devin Tillis, who led the game with 22 points on 7-of-15 shooting on the night. Tillis rose to the occasion, icing the game with two late free throws after hitting a long 3-pointer with 1:23 to go in overtime to swing momentum in the Anteaters favor.

Irvine’s 7-1 center Bent Leuchten was a force in the paint, recording a double-double of his own with 18 points and 10 rebounds as UAB continued to struggle defending 7-footers.

There’s plenty of uncertainty in the Blazers’ future, with Lendeborg likely heading to the NBA and Coleman, Vasquez and Tony Toney graduating to leave starting spots open. With UAB’s season coming to a close, the transfer portal is open and could be a place where the Blazers can tout their consistency under Andy Kennedy to make some moves.