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FLORENCE, Ala. –
The University of West Alabama men’s basketball
team dropped a 80-64 decision to Gulf South Conference
East favorite North Alabama on Thursday night to open
GSC play.
The Lions (11-5,
1-0 GSC) out-scored the Tigers (6-8, 0-1 GSC) 52-35 in
the second half after the Red and White took a 29-28
advantage into the halftime break. UNA put together a
17-7 scoring run after the game was tied at 41-41 at the
14:18 mark of the half. A lay up by UNA’s Kenny Johnson
gave the Lions their first double-digit lead at 58-48 at
the midway point of the period. UWA trimmed the lead
down to as many as six points on two occasions near the
five minute mark. UNA built the lead out to as many as
14 points with just over three minutes remaining on the
game clock. The Lions connected on 57 percent from the
field in the second half and took advantage of ten Tiger
turnovers in the final 20 minutes. For the game, UNA
turned 26 UWA miscues into 32 points.
UWA got off to a
great start in the conference opener, taking its largest
lead at 13-5 with 15:03 remaining in the opening
period. Junior forward Jason Swanson, who recorded his
third double-double of the season, reached double
figures in scoring with 14 points in the first half.
The Troy, Ala.-native led all Tigers in scoring with 16
points and 11 rebounds.
Junior forward
Jonathan Griffin turned in a 14-point effort while
Brandon Hampton registered ten points off the bench.
UNA’s Thomas Fraise
finished with a game-high 19 points. The current GSC
East Player of the Week carded 12 of his 19 points in
the second half. Livingston, Ala.-native Corey Speight
added 18 points in the affair.
UWA continues play in the opening
weekend of conference action, traveling to Carrollton,
Ga. to face West Georgia. Tip off is set for 6:30 p.m.
CST at The Coliseum on the UWG campus. The UWA-UWG tilt
will be aired on WZNJ 106.5 FM following the women’s
contest. |
