MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of West Alabama men’s basketball team notched its first Gulf South Conference win of the 2008 conference season, knocking off in-state rival Montevallo 73-62 on Saturday night at the People’s Bank and Trust Arena on the UM campus.

The win snaps UWA’s GSC losing skid at ten games dating back to the final five league contests of 2006-07.  The 11-point win over the Falcons, who were the pre-season pick to win the East, is the first since an 86-74 victory over UM since the 2005-06 campaign.

UWA (6-13, 1-5 GSC), who answered every UM call in the second half, after the Falcons trimmed down the halftime deficit down to three points within the first minute of the second half.  The Red and White pushed the lead back out to as many as ten on one of Kevin Johnson’s three field goals at the 15:08 mark of the second half at 47-37.  UM (9-11, 2-4 GSC) made a second run at the Tigers with just over five minutes left in the game and cut the UWA lead down to four on a dunk by UM’s Brian Carlye.  Junior Glenn Miles, who finished with 14 points, scored ten of those in the final 20 minutes. 

The Tigers got off to a great start and took their first lead of the opening half at the 12:31 mark of the first period on one of Michael Billing’s six three pointers in the game.  UWA would maintain the lead throughout the remaining of the first half and would take a 38-30 lead into the break.  Billings turned 15 of his 20 team-high points in the opening half.  The senior from Albany, Ga. drained five of his treys in the first period. 

Junior Brian Murphy was credited with 12 points in the win while guard Chris Malone chipped in 10 points.  Junior Maurice Naylor added eight points along with pulling down a team-high nine boards.

UM was led by Carlye and Tauras Dortch 13-points apiece effort in the setback.

UWA will step out of conference play this week, welcoming Wesley College out of Florence, Miss to Pruitt Hall on Monday, Feb. 4.  Tip off is set for 6 p.m. The Tigers will play their third game in a span of five days on Wednesday, closing out the non-conference docket with Concordia.