LIVINGSTON, Ala. — The University of West Alabama men’s basketball team fell 76-66 to the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the Gulf South Conference opener on Saturday at Pruitt Hall on the UWA campus.

The Chargers (6-8, 1-0 GSC) took its first lead three minutes deep into the game and held off a feisty comeback after comeback by the Tigers to open league competition with a win.  UAH was sparked by Casey Stafford’s game-high 26 point effort in 32 minutes of action.  Stafford scorched the nets in the first 20 minutes, connecting on six three pointers en route to turning in a 20-point performance in the first half.  He hit all six of the Blue and White’s treys in the opening stanza.  UAH took its largest lead of 11 in the first half on Stafford’s six trey of the half with 1:24 left.  UWA (5-9, 0-1 GSC) got a jumper from Kevin Johnson just before the intermission to trim the lead to 34-25.

UAH opened the second half with an 11-6 scoring run to push the lead out to as many as 14 points at the 16:32 mark of the final half.  The Tigers trimmed the margin down to five, 68-63, with just over a minute to play on a Glenn Miles basket.  The Chargers connected on free throws down the stretch to seal the win. 

UWA was led in the scoring column by senior Michael Billings with 14 points.  Junior Brian Murphy chipped in 11, finishing a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.  Cavin Payton added nine points in the setback.  Taige Adderley led the Tigers in rebounds with nine.

Along with Stafford’s 26-point effort, UAH’s Kael Coleman came off the bench to add 12 points, while the team’s leading scorer, Tyler Dunaway pitched in nine and a team-high eight rebounds.

The Red and White will close out the opening weekend of GSC activity against West Georgia on Monday, Jan. 14.  Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m. on the UWA campus.