ROME, Ga. – Shorter turned to its star scorer early and often Saturday as Phil Taylor hung 40 points in a 79-56 Gulf South Conference men's basketball victory over West Alabama at the Winthrop-King Center.

With the win, the Hawks improve to 17-9, moving to 11-9 in league play. The Tigers fall to 10-16, falling to 5-25 in the conference.

"We didn't really have an answer for him," UWA coach Allen Sharpe said. "We held him to 25 points at our place and a lot of those came late."

The Hawks wasted very little time getting started, rolling out to an 8-0 lead before the Tigers got on the board. Taylor drilled a jumper with 13:42 left in the opening half to move it to 15-2 before Domonique Alexander caromed in a shot off the glass to account for all of the Tiger offense to that point.

Led by Taylor, the Hawks continued the onslaught in the first half as they shot 53.3 percent from the floor in the game's first 20 minutes. By comparison, UWA shot only 18.5 percent from the floor in the half. Taylor personally outscored the Tigers 25-16 in the half.

West Alabama struggled to rebound in the game's opening frame as well, snagging only 12 boards while Shorter pulled down 26.

"We shot 18 percent in the half. That's unheard of," Sharpe said. "I asked the guys at halftime, 'How is it possible that all of you can be shooting this poorly at the same time?" 

In the second half, the Tigers found a little more offense as Gavin Robinson put up 20 in the period to finish with 22 points. Jahmal Lane was the only other Tiger in double figures with 12 points.

"We had good looks, but we just didn't have guys make them. I was worried about this game because that loss at Lee was heartbreaking, and Shorter has so much offensively," Sharpe said of his team's quick turnaround off a double-overtime loss at Lee Thursday night.

Shorter, who led by as many as 31 in the second half, shot 50.9 percent from the floor and out rebounded UWA 41-27.

"We still have a plan. We still have a way we're going to play. And we're going to get at it," Sharpe said of his team's final week, which will see it host Delta State Thursday before welcoming Mississippi College to Livingston Saturday. Tip off against the Statesmen is set for 7:30 p.m.