MEMPHIS, Tenn. –University of West Alabama men's basketball shot its season high of 60 percent from the field (36-for-60) to defeat LeMoyne-Owen College 97-83 in the Magician's home opener at Bruce Johnson Hall Saturday.

The win improves West Alabama to 3-3 overall and wraps up a six-game road stretch to open the season. LeMoyne-Owen drops to 2-3.

UWA turned 16 Magician turnovers into 22 points, while giving up only 14 points on 11 turnovers. The Tiger bench totaled 47 points, led by Charles Eaton with 23 points. Terrance Carroll added 16 to the bench point total, shooting 5-for-6 from the 3-point line.

Eaton led West Alabama to its largest lead of 21 points, coming off the bench in the final 11 minutes of the first half to score 11 points. He finished 12-for-12 from the free-throw line.

"It's always hard to go on the road and win, it's even harder to go on the road out of state and out of league to win," said UWA head coach Allen Sharpe.

"They really put some pressure on us, but I thought we did a really good job of attacking and taking what the defense gave us. The game got sloppy in the end and we gave up some points that hindered some goals that we were trying to do, but for the most part to go on the road and win makes the ride home easier."

After a 4-4 score through the opening four minutes, the UWA offense exploded with on an 18-4 point run in the following four minutes. The Tigers maintained their lead through the half to go in 45-32 at the break.

Justin Wright and Lleon Tillman each totaled 14 points. Wright recorded 10 of his points in the first half, while Tillman hit 10 in the second. Deontaye Ewing followed with 11 points. Kenric McCants had a season high of 11 assists, adding seven points. Tillman led the team with nine total rebounds.

Five Magicians posted double-digit total points, led by Dequan Mitchell with 21. LOC finished 30-for-68 (44 percent) from the field.

West Alabama men's hoops will open its 2014-15 home season against Miles College Monday at 7:30 p.m. in Pruitt Hall.

"We are looking forward to being home after being on the road so much," Sharpe said. "It will be my first game at home and a little more comforting compared to our brutal schedule thus far."