MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The University of West Alabama men’s basketball team fell 83-49 to the University of Southern Arkansas at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center on the SAU campus on Tuesday night.  The contest was the second contest of a two-game road trip to the state of Arkansas. 

The Muleriders (3-1) scorched the nets in both halves, posting 51 percent (15-29) in the first half and connected on 16-of-29 (55 percent) field goals in the final 20 minutes.  SAU also took advantage of 22 UWA turnovers to post its third-straight win.  The Tigers turned in a 31 percent shooting performance in the affair.  The Red and White trailed 41-23 at the intermission after trailing by as many as 21 with just over three minutes to play in the opening half.  SAU’s Mori Turpin registered a game-high 17 points, knocking down 5-of-7 three pointers in 21 minutes of action.  Chanin Harden tallied 10 points while David Noble came off the bench to add 10 points.

Junior Maurice Naylor led all UWA scorers with 14 points in the setback.  The Meridian, Miss.-product carded his third double figure scoring performance of the season.  Senior Abdoulaye N’diaye turned in a season-best 13 points.  Chris Malone and Brian Murphy each finished with seven points.

The Tigers will look to snap a four-game losing skid this weekend at the Valdosta State Classic in Valdosta, Ga.  UWA will face Eckerd College on 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 30 and Lynn on Saturday, Dec. 1.  The Tritons of EC enter the contest having won three straight.