TROY, Ala. –  The University of West Alabama men’s basketball team closed out exhibition play on Monday with a 112-67 setback to Troy University at Trojan Arena.  The match up against a former Gulf South Conference rival was the second exhibition contest for UWA against Division I competition. The Tigers dropped their first exhibition to UAB on Thursday night.

The Tigers were led in scoring and rebounding by junior college transfer Kevin Johnson.  Johnson, a newcomer to the Red and White by way of Shelton State Community College poured in 22 points and pulled down 21 rebounds in the contest.  The Akron, Ala.-product finished 10-17 in his 29 minutes of play.  UWA’s Brian Murphy tallied 15 points along with Demarcus King’s 10 points.  Murphy, from Birmingham, Ala., finished 5-6 from the free throw line.  As a team, the Tigers shot 80 percent from the charity stripe (12-15) and shot 44 percent from the field for the game.  UWA trailed 54-40 at the halftime break.

Troy, a member of the Sun Belt Conference, placed four in double figures in the scoring column.  Justin Jonus led all scorers with 25 points.  TU’s O’Darien Bassett added 20 points while Tom Jervis and Bernard Toombs each posted 10 points each.

UWA officially opens the Eddie McCarter era on Saturday, Nov. 17, at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Ala.