LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama men's basketball team will head into the holiday break riding a three-game winning streak after UWA held off Southern Arkansas, 73-70, Monday at Pruitt Hall. The Tigers will enter the holiday break at 8-4 on the season after sweeping the Muleriders of SAU (5-7) and the University of Arkansas at Monticello on Saturday. UWA returns to action on Dec. 28 against NCAA Division I foe Alabama State in Montgomery, Ala. UWA held off SAU in the final seconds as David Noble's three-pointer rimmed out at the buzzer. Leading by seven on two occasions with less than two minutes left in the contest, the Muleriders trimmed the deficit down to three with 10 ticks left on the clock on a Noble lay up. UWA's Alquan Mendenhall had an opportunity to seal the game at the free throw line, but missed the front end of a one-and-one trip to the charity stripe. With the game knotted at 30-30 with 3:54 left in the opening half, the Red and White out-scored SAU 8-1 the rest of the way to take a 38-31 lead at halftime. UWA quickly took its lead to 48-35 with 16:50 left in the contest as Jason Swanson hit a jumper in the paint. Over three minutes later, Mendenhall gave UWA its largest lead of the contest at 54-39 on a three-point basket. Mendenhall finished with 13 points, draining a trio of three-pointers. Swanson registered a game-high 18 points and 10 rebounds in the win. His double-double effort was his sixth of the season. The Troy, Ala.-native now has 16 double-double games in 38 career games. Junior Trevell Coleman poured in a season-best 16 points off the bench. Senior guard Richard Sirju rounded out the four Tigers in double-digit scoring with 11 points. Both teams shot the ball well as SAU connected on 58 percent from the field while UWA matched its season average of 48 percent shooting. The Tigers edged the Muleriders on the boards 30-28. UWA took care of the ball for a season-low 10 turnovers along with forcing 17 SAU miscues. Dade Sanchez paced SAU with 17 points. Noble turned in 14 points off the bench. UWA will break for the holiday before reconvening on Dec. 26 to prep for its contest with Alabama State on Dec. 28 in Montgomery, Ala. The Hornets (2-7) downed cross-town rival Auburn Montgomery, 79-66 in their last outing.