LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama men’s basketball team returns to competition this weekend, taking part in the Loop Pizza Grill Classic in Valdosta, Ga.  The Tigers will take on Sunshine State Conference members Barry University on Friday and Saint Leo University on Saturday.

The UWA-BU tilt is scheduled to tip off at 5 p.m. CST on Friday at Valdosta State University’s P.E. Complex.  The Red and White will battle SLU at 5 p.m. CST on Saturday.  Live stats will not be available for both contests.

UWA (2-4) looks to rebound from a 93-59 setback on Tuesday at Delta State.  The Tigers will also look to snap a three-game losing skid this weekend after dropping the three previous outings to Tusculum, Carson Newman and DSU.

Junior Jason Swanson leads the offensive charge with an 18.3 scoring average.  The Troy, Ala.-product has turned in double digit scoring efforts in all five of his games played this season.  He turned in season-best 23 point performance against DSU on Tuesday.  Swanson is also the team leader in rebounds, pulling down 7.3 boards per contest.  Juniors Herman Mains and Jonathan Griffin average ten points per game through the first six games of the season.

The Buccaneers of BU enter the weekend with a 2-1 mark on the season, while the Lions of SLU (3-2) are riding a three-game winning streak heading into the VSU-hosted event.  The Lions will face the Blazers in the second game on Friday.  Friday’s contest with BU marks the first time UWA and BU have met on the basketball hardwood.  The Tigers have claimed the two previous meetings with the Lions, with the last meeting coming during the 2005-06 campaign.

Following the weekend activity, UWA will break for final exams next week before taking the court against Miles College on Saturday, Dec. 13 in Fairfield, Ala.