LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Junior guard
Acie Vance posted his second straight 20-plus point performance and West Alabama's defense shut down nationally ranked No. 24 Union University enroute to a 63-47 Gulf South Conference Men's Basketball victory at Pruitt Hall Thursday.
West Alabama improves to 5-5 overall and 2-3 in the GSC. Union drops from first place in the league standings to third at 9-2 and 3-2.
"We were really pleased with our effort defensively. Our guys did a great job of knowing who they were guarding and how to defend them," said UWA head coach
Allen Sharpe.
"Holding them to 47 points is really quite an accomplishment for our guys. Defense can always be there for you. There will be some nights when the shooting won't be there for you, and
Acie Vance doesn't make as many shots, but we can have defending and the effort to hold people every night. That's what wins for you when the ball isn't going in the hole. We feel a lot better about ourselves offensively, even though we only had 63 points, we had a really good percentage from the field."
The Tigers controlled their lead for all but eight seconds of the game, shooting 50 percent (11-of-22) from behind the 3-point line; 45 percent (23-of-51) from the field. Vance finished with 25 points, hitting 9-of-12 from the field and 4-of-6 from behind the arc. He owns 46 points through the last two games.
Vance, along with
Simeon Dennis, each opened the first half shooting 2-of-3 from the 3-point line, leading UWA to a 31-26 lead at halftime. Dennis finished the game with nine points; all in the first half.
Jake Jobling fueled the shooting in the second half, hitting all three of his 3-point attempts in the period to finish with 11 points throughout the game.
Vance and Dennis also led the defense with three steals each as the team combined for eight. UWA turned 11 Union turnovers into 10 points and led in defensive rebounds 26-20.
Ashanti Day led the Bulldogs with 11 points, while his team finished shooting 27 percent (15-of-55) from the field and 22 percent (5-of-22) from behind the arc.
West Alabama Men's Basketball remains at home to host Christian Brothers University on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. at Pruitt Hall.
