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Charles Eaton
Joe Chance
61
Delta State University DSU 10-14, 8-8
73
Winner West Alabama UWA 18-6, 12-4
Delta State University DSU
10-14, 8-8
61
Final
73
West Alabama UWA
18-6, 12-4
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Delta State University DSU 24 37 61
West Alabama UWA 30 43 73

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Tigers clinch GSC Championship Tournament spot with 73-61 victory over DSU

LIVINGSTON, Ala. – For the first time since the 2014-15 season, the West Alabama Tigers are postseason bound after leading for over 38 minutes in a 73-61 win over the Delta State Statesmen Thursday night in Pruitt Hall to clinch a spot in the 2018 Gulf South Conference Men's Championship Tournament.
 
UWA improves to 18-6 overall and 12-4 in the GSC. DSU falls to 10-14 overall and 8-8 in the conference.
 
"Every season you go into, you have goals and aspirations for your team and obviously number one is to be in that conference tournament and have a chance to win the Gulf South Conference and win the automatic bid to the NCAA Regional Tournament. That was the goal of ours," said Head coach Allen Sharpe. "After the last couple of years, we haven't been quite as good and to do that is a step in the right direction."
 
While UWA did lead for the majority of the contest, there were several instances where the Statesmen cut the lead to well within striking distance including being only down five with 2:46 to go, but each time the Tigers found an answer to pull away from the visitors.
 
"Wins are good. I thought we did some things down the stretch with a lineup that's unusual from time to time," said Head coach Allen Sharpe. "We kind of grinded it out. We did just enough to keep space between Delta State and ourselves to go ahead and get the win."
 
Charles Eaton led all scorers with 29 points including a perfect 9 of 9 effort from the free throw line. The senior guard from Selma, Ala. also added five rebounds. Josh Fleming scored 14 and dished a game high five assists while Gavin Robinson scored 12 and grabbed eight rebounds.
 
Despite the victory, it was the two technical free throws West Alabama received throughout the game that aggravated Sharpe about his team's performance on the evening.
 
"These guys are going to have start learning that those points and possessions may cost us somewhere down the line," said Sharpe. "Just because you're upset about an officials' call, what gives you the right to cause our team technical free throws. We've got some growing up to do with that. They'll learn. The best way to teach them is to put them on the bench. They'll learn."
 
Now that UWA has clinched a post-season spot, the Tigers turn their attention to securing a home game in the quarterfinal round.
 
"We have four games left and we feel like we can win all four and we want to keep winning to play good basketball," said Sharpe.
 
The first step is a Saturday contest in Pruitt Hall against Mississippi College in Pruitt Hall. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. in Livingston. UWA claimed the previous matchup between these teams with an 86-60 win in Clinton, Miss. The game will be broadcast on ESPN 104.9 and livestreamed on uwaathletics.com.
 
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