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MONTEVALLO, Ala.
– For the first time since the 1997-98 season, the
University of West Alabama men’s basketball team will
compete in the Gulf South Conference Tournament after
the Tigers clipped Montevallo, 60-48 on Saturday at UM’s
BankTrust Arena.
Along with UWA’s
(13-14, 5-7 GSC) 12-point win over its in-state rival
and the University of West Florida’s setback to the GSC
East Division Champion, Valdosta State earlier on
Saturday. The Tigers will be the GSC East No. 4 seed in
the post season event and will face the No. 5 seed from
the GSC West. Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m.
With the Tigers’
appearance in the GSC Tournament, this marks the first
time the UWA men and women have made the post season
since the league went to a neutral site for the event.
UWA held off a
Falcon surge midway through the second half, after the
Red and White led by as many as 15 points with 12:57
left in the contest. UM (15-15, 5-7 GSC) installed a
zone trap defense that caused the Tigers fits, but
clutch free throws down the stretch staved off a UM
rally. A bucket by Lucas Hall at the 7:10 mark of the
final period was the final Tiger basket in the game.
Free throws by Jonathan Griffin, Herman Mains and Chris
Davis all connected on free throws in the final seven
minutes.
A free throw by
UM’s Gerald January trimmed the UWA lead down to three
points with 2:24 to play, but a blocked shot by Griffin
with under a minute to play and a pair of free throws
pushed UWA’s edge out to 55-47.
Junior forward
Jason Swanson claimed game-high scoring honors with 15
points. The Troy, Ala.-forward pulled down seven
rebounds and finished 5-of-7 from the charity stripe.
Griffin added 11 points in the win along with Jamaine
Nance’s nine points. As a team, UWA shot 48 percent
from the field while holding UM to just 30 percent from
the field. The Tigers took a 33-26 lead into the
halftime break.
UM’s January came
off the bench to lead the Falcons in scoring. UM will
be the fifth seed from the GSC East.
The GSC will unveil the entire
bracket once competition from Saturday’s games
concludes. Stay tuned to athletics.uwa.edu for game
times and other information regarding the GSC
Tournament. |
