ROME, Ga. – University of West Alabama men's basketball  could not overcome an early offensive surge by Shorter University in the opening minutes of regulation to fall 78-69 in Gulf South Conference action at the Winthrop-King Centre Saturday.

Shorter improves to 9-4 overall and 4-3 in the GSC, while West Alabama falls to 8-7 and 3-4.

SU opened the game with a 17-3 lead through the first five minutes. Despite three separate runs by the Tigers to cut the deficit to six or less points, Shorter maintained a 42-36 lead at the half with help from a Dedric Ware 3-pointer as time expired.  

West Alabama fought its way back to tie the game for the first time at 64-64 with five minutes left to play. However Shorter's offense, who entered the game as the league leader averaging 87 points per game, responded with a 9-0 point run in the final minutes to secure the victory.

"We had a chance to win here tonight," said UWA Head Coach Allen Sharpe.

"I felt good coming into this game after a win over AUM early this week and the way we warmed up. We had guys busting it in the warm up, even taking charges.  They just controlled the whole pace of the game right out of the gate.  

"We made enough plays to catch up to them but just not enough to go ahead. We had several easy shots that we missed early. If we had made those then it would have changed the ball game. As bad as we played in the first half, we finally caught them in the second half, but it always felt like a struggle for us offensively."

Dedric Ware entered as the GSC leader with 234 total points and averaging 19.5 points per game. He led the Hawks with 19 points, hitting 6-of-12 from the field and 3-of-5 from the 3-point line. Tyler Alderman followed with 14 points.

Shorter combined for 32-of-58 (55 percent) from the field, improving from 43 percent 3-point shooting in the first half to 66 percent in the second to finish 7-for-13. West Alabama ended 24-of-62 from the field and 5-of-14 from the 3-point line.

Charles Eaton once again came off the bench to post double-digit points for the eighth time this season, leading the Tigers with 17 points.

Lleon Tillman recorded his fifth double-double of the year with 14 points and 12 rebounds. He is now just one away from matching his season total of double-doubles from a year ago.

Jarell Byrd hit his season high of 15 points, shooting 5-for-7 from the field and 2-for-3 from the 3-point line.

West Alabama men's hoops will now travel to Cleveland, Tenn. to take on Lee University on Monday. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. (C.S.T.) in Walker Arena.  

"If we are going to have a chance to break even on the road this year, then we are going to have to win on Monday," Sharpe said.