UAB vs. UC Irvine Picks and Prediction – 3/26/2025

UAB Blazers (24-12) vs. UC Irvine Anteaters (30-6)
Time: 9:00 PM ET
Location: Bren Events Center, Irvine, CA
TV: ESPN2, ESPN+

Previous Games:

  • UAB: Coming off a 88-84 win vs. Santa Clara

  • UC Irvine: Coming off a 66-61 win vs. Jacksonville State

Head-to-Head:

UC Irvine enters this matchup on a two-game win streak and has won 4 of their last 5 games, while UAB also comes in strong, having won 4 of their last 5 games.

UC Irvine Breakdown:

The Anteaters come into the game with a solid 66-61 win over Jacksonville State, where Justin Hohn led the way with 22 points. Bent Leuchten has been the star of the season, averaging 15.3 points per game and dominating the boards with 9 rebounds per game. Devin Tillis adds 13.2 points per game and helps balance the offense. Hohn also plays a crucial role in playmaking, averaging 3.7 assists per game. Over their last five games, UC Irvine has averaged an impressive 80.4 points per game, with a season average of 75.9 points.

Key Players:

  • Bent Leuchten: 15.3 points per game, 9 rebounds per game

  • Justin Hohn: 22 points vs. Jacksonville State

  • Devin Tillis: 13.2 points per game

UAB Breakdown:

UAB comes off a high-scoring 88-84 victory over Santa Clara, where Yaxel Lendeborg made a huge impact with 22 points. Lendeborg leads the team with an average of 17.8 points per game and is also a standout on the boards, averaging 11.2 rebounds per game. Christian Coleman is the second-highest scorer for UAB with 11.3 points per game. Over their last five games, the Blazers have averaged 77.8 points per game and have been consistently strong on offense, averaging 81.4 points per game overall.

Key Players:

  • Yaxel Lendeborg: 17.8 points per game, 11.2 rebounds per game

  • Christian Coleman: 11.3 points per game

  • Yaxel Lendeborg: 4.3 assists per game

Betting Trends:

UAB:

  • 7-5 on the road this season.

  • Average 78.2 points per game on the road.

UC Irvine:

  • 12-2 at home this season.

  • Average 76.5 points per game at home.

Exact Score Prediction:

UC Irvine 82 – UAB 75

Our Best Bet:

UC Irvine -4.5

With a solid home court advantage and an offense firing on all cylinders, UC Irvine should cover the spread at home in this NIT Quarterfinal matchup against UAB.

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