LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The quest for a Gulf South Conference Tournament berth for the University of West Alabama men's basketball team falls short and UWA was nipped by Valdosta State 75-73 on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers conclude the season with an 11-15 record and 5-7 in GSC play. The Blazers improve to 20-8 on the season and 7-5 in the conference.

The Red and White erased a 15-point, second half deficit to take the lead at 65-64 with 2:40 remaining to play in the game. UWA outscored the Red and Black 35-19 en route to taking its first lead since the 5-minute mark of the opening half. Senior Korielle Beavers – in the last game of his collegiate career – scored eight of his 15 points during the run. Paul Mitchell added seven during the stretch.

A 3-pointer by Richard Dixon and four consecutive free throws by Beavers pushed the lead out to six points – the largest of the game for the Red and White. A Christian Hunter trey with just over a minute to play brought the Blazers within three. Hunter finished the night with a game-best 24 points.

Following a Ryan Fitch free throw that put the margin back to four points, Sidney Harris would score the Blazers next five points. The final one coming with nine seconds left to play to put VSU back in front 74-73. Will Alston added the final point of the game by hitting the front end of a pair of shots from the charity stripe and then missing the final attempt to force the final second to run off and clinch the victory for the Red and Black.

Senior Trevell Coleman and Alquan Mendenhall each posted double figures to round out the double figure scorers for UWA. Dixon led the Tigers on the glass with seven rebounds.

West Alabama shot 55 percent from behind the arc while connecting on 44 percent of its shots from the floor. VSU finished with a 54 scoring clip from the field with 39 from behind the 3-point line.