VALDOSTA, Ga. – The University of West Alabama men’s basketball team put a stop to a four-game losing skid on Saturday with a 62-59 win over Sunshine State Conference foe Saint Leo in the Loop Pizza Classic, hosted by Valdosta State University.

The Tigers (3-5) staved off a Lion second half surge to pick up the three-point win, as SLU (3-4) turned in a 38 point performance in the final half.  The Green and Gold connected on 52 percent (13-of-25) from the field in the final 20 minutes to erase a 32-21 UWA halftime lead and take its largest lead of the game at 51-45 at the 6:28 mark.  UWA put up the next six points to even the contest with five minutes left in the contest.  The Red and White out-scored the Lions 11-8 over the final five minutes to secure the win.  Jason Swanson’s basket at the 3:16 mark gave the Tigers a five-point advantage.  SLU got within one point on two occasions in the final minutes, but a tip in basket and a pair of clutch free throws by senior Jamaine Nance closed out the scoring for the Tigers in the final minute of the affair.

Nance, a native of Huntsville, Ala., finished with a game-high and season-best 21 points in the contest.  He scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half, including a perfect 6-for-6 from free throw line in the half.  Nance also dished out three assists and did not get a breather, playing all 40 minutes of the game.  Junior guard Herman Mains registered 15 points and nine rebounds.  The McDonough, Ga.-product also drained a trio of three-pointers in the contest. Junior Jonathan Griffin chipped in nine points. For the second-straight game, UWA out-rebounded its opponent, 46-28, led by Brandon Hampton’s game-high ten boards.

Matthew Salay led SLU with 17 points.

UWA returns to action next Saturday, Dec. 13, traveling to Fairfield, Ala. to face in-state foe Miles College.  Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m.