LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama dropped its final home contest of the 2008 portion of the schedule with a 61-55 setback to Clark Atlanta University on Wednesday night at Pruitt Hall.

The Panthers of CAU (4-2) opened the second half with a 20-0 scoring run to erase a 13-point, 26-13 UWA (4-6) halftime lead and take the lead in the affair.  The Tigers first basket of the final period came at the 14:05 mark.  UWA battled back to even the contest on four occasions in the final 20 minutes, but the CAU hot shooting continued throughout the half, connecting on 17-of-28 (60 percent) from the field.  CAU built its largest lead of the contest at 53-45 after out-scoring the Tigers 12-4 over a seven-minute period.  CAU’s Kevin Johnson turned in 16 of his game-high 21 points in the second half while Garry Beverly of CAU posted 13 of his 15 points in the final 20 minutes.  Beverly was credited with 15 rebounds in the affair.

UWA used a 15-2 scoring run to close out the opening half and take a double-digit lead into the intermission.  A trio of Tigers turned in double-figure scoring totals, led by junior Jason Swanson’s 15 point effort.  The Troy, Ala.-native came up one rebound shy of a double-double.  Junior Jonathan Griffin continued his stellar play, posting a double-double with 13 points and pulling down ten rebounds.  Griffin was coming off a 28 point, 11 rebound outing against Miles on Saturday.  Junior Lucas Hall added ten points in the contest.  With its 44 total rebounds, UWA has out-rebounded its opponent in eight of its first ten games of the season.

The Tigers will travel to Birmingham, Ala. on Saturday, Dec. 20 to face Southeastern Bible College.  Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m. at Samford University’s Seibert Hall.