Final Box Score

CARROLLTON, Ga. – Jenario Bunton made a key basket in the final 15 seconds to rally the University of West Alabama men’s basketball team from a 10-point deficit, but it was overshadowed by a Sheldon Harris tip-in at the buzzer to lift West Georgia past the Tigers, 77-75 in a Gulf South Conference game at the HPE Building/Campus Center.

“We are very, very disappointed in losing this game,” West Alabama coach Rick Reedy said. “Our kids played with tremendous effort. They hit it right there at the end and it just wasn’t meant to be.

Bunton paced West Alabama (6-10 overall, 1-2 GSC) with 17 points, while Raymond Shaw and Stan Gill had 14 and 13 points, respectively. Shaw also finished with 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season.

The Tigers trailed throughout the night and were down, 71-61, with 2:15 remaining. West Alabama used a 13-4 run, before Harris gave West Georgia the victory with the tip-in at the buzzer.

Trailing 71-61, the Tigers got a 3-pointer by Bunton and pair of free throws by Shaw to cut the deficit to 72-66 with 1:34 remaining. West Georgia got a tip-in by Harris to extend the lead to 74-66, but the Tigers got baskets by Gill, Hembree and Bunton to force a tie with 11 seconds remaining.

Terrence Hundley led the Wolves (7-9, 1-3) with 23 points, while Hendrick Foster added 18. Harris finished with 15 points and nine boards.

“It really helps us when we have a big crowd,” Reedy said about playing at Pruitt Hall. “It is going to be a huge game for us and we can’t afford to lose too many more games.”

The Tigers play host to Valdosta State in a Gulf South Conference Eastern Division match at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20 at Pruitt Hall.

.