LIVINGSTON, Ala. — The University of West Alabama men’s basketball team dropped an 80-68 decision to Valdosta State in hoops action Saturday afternoon on the UWA campus.

The Tigers (9-16, 2-8 GSC), still have a shot in the Gulf South Conference East race for one of the remaining berths into the conference tournament.  UWA needs wins on the road at West Florida on Monday night and a home win over Montevallo next Saturday to help its cause in getting one of those remaining spots in the ten-team field.

UWA trailed the Blazers 37-26 at the intermission and were hoping their luck would change after leading VSU (15-10, 6-4 GSC) at the break in the first meeting between the two squads.  The Red and White trimmed the 11-point halftime deficit down to five at the 16:11 mark of the final half and got within two possessions at 53-49 at the halfway point of the game.  VSU pushed the lead back out to double digits after posting an 11-0 scoring run to build its largest lead of the game at 15 points.  UWA’s offense was sparked by junior Tyler Roden, who came off the bench for 12 second half points in the affair, a season high for the Carrollton, Ga.-native.  Roden drilled four three-pointers in his 11 minutes of activity. 

The Tigers were in led scoring by senior Michael Billings with 16 points.  Junior Brian Murphy chipped in 11 points in the contest along with a team-high five assists.  Taige Adderley posted a season-high ten points and a team-best five rebounds. 

VSU’s Devario Hudson was credited with a game-high 21 points and 12 rebounds.

UWA returns to the floor on Monday night in a pivotal GSC East battle with West Florida in Pensacola, Fla.  Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m. and the game will be carried on Y104.9 FM.