UAB vs Memphis Tigers Prediction & Picks - NCAA Men

Prediction published on 3/16/25, 9:17 AM  by Travis Pulver | Modified on 3/16/25 at 9:21 AM in NCAA Men Picks

The American Athletic Conference tournament concludes today with its championship game, featuring the UAB Blazers (22-11, 13-5) and the Memphis Tigers (28-5, 16-2). Fans can catch the game via ESPN or ESPN+ when it gets underway at 3 p.m. ET.

UAB finished the regular season on a sour note with an 85-68 loss to Tulane in their regular season finale. However, they bounced back nicely with a decisive 99-77 win over East Carolina in the quarterfinal round. Led by Yaxel Lendeborg's massive night (30 points, 20 rebounds), they got out to a 49-33 lead at the break and never looked back. Lendeborg led the way in the semifinal game vs. North Texas with 23 points and 13 rebounds as the Blazers rolled through the Mean Green 66-56.

As for Memphis, the Tigers ended the regular season on a roll with wins in their last five games (and 13 in their last 14). They kept that momentum going in the quarterfinals by edging out Wichita State 83-80 with a lot of help from PJ Haggerty’s 42-point night. In the semifinals, Memphis took a seven-point lead into the break, but Tulane started the second on a 7-0,  erasing that lead. The Tigers did not retake the lead for good until PJ Haggerty hit a free throw with 40 seconds left to make the score 72-71 Memphis.