Tigers Improve to 6-1 at Home With Win Over Martin Methodist

Box Score

LIVINGSTON – Darron Johnson and LaJuan Hardy combined for 46 points as West Alabama defeated Martin Methodist, 70-42, Thursday at Pruitt Hall Gym.

The win improved the Tigers to 6-1 at home and 6-2 overall. Martin Methodist dropped to 6-5.

"They have some good players," UWA head coach Allen Sharpe said. "Some guys we tried to recruit, so we knew it would be a challenge.

"To hold them to 42 points is a great job defensively by our guys," Sharpe said. "They were counting this as an exhibition game, so they were out there just hoopin' it up."

The Redhawks shot 18 three pointers but managed to make just five. Limiting Martin Methodist to a 35 percent night from the floor overall combined with a 27 percent shooting effort behind the three-point arc kept West Alabama in charge for the bulk of the night.

West Alabama led for just over 31 minutes and Martin Methodist's last lead was 14-12 with 12:27 to go in the first half. UWA's largest lead was the final score.

Johnson finished with a game-high 24 points and Hardy chipped in 22 as the Tigers shot 49 percent for the game and 57 percent in the second half.

"Darron made some shots and he can blow the game open when he does that," Sharpe said. "Even though LaJuan had 22, I'm not sure it was his best game with six turnovers.

"I'm not sure we played that well offensively. We had 17 turnovers," Sharpe said. "Still, you have to win games when you don't play particularly well, and we did that tonight. As you know, winning is hard."

Mike Davis had nine rebounds as UWA outrebounded the Redhawks, 33-24. Hardy and Rene Scott both dished out four assists for the Tigers.

Martin Methodist failed to have a player score in double figures. Darrin Jenkins had nine points to lead the way. Tomonique Marion and Aaron Shambry collected four rebounds apiece.

After taking a break for fall semester final exams West Alabama returns to the court Dec. 11 against Paine College at Pruitt Hall. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Martin Methodist remains on the road to face Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee on Saturday.

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Players Mentioned

#1 LaJuan Hardy: G; 5' 11"; Senior

#11 Darron Johnson: G; 6' 2"; Senior

#0 Mike Davis: F; 6' 7"; Senior

#4 Rene Scott: G; 5' 9"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#1 LaJuan Hardy
: 5' 11"; Senior
: G

#11 Darron Johnson
: 6' 2"; Senior
: G

#0 Mike Davis
: 6' 7"; Senior
: F

#4 Rene Scott
: 5' 9"; Senior
: G