Men’s Hoops Preview: UAH and Lee Come to Town

LIVINGSTON, Ala.– When it comes to West Alabama Men's Basketball and important home games, this will be the biggest test the Tigers have faced this season. The Alabama-Huntsville Chargers and Lee Flames come to town and will provide stiff competition for UWA and the hopes of finishing atop the Gulf South Conference standings.

The battle against UAH will be at 7:30 p.m. in Pruitt Hall Gymnasium Thursday night and will be a "Red Out" where fans are encouraged to wear red to the game. The Tigers will host Lee Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.

West Alabama enters the weekend 16-5 overall, 11-3 in the GSC and riding a seven-game winning streak after hanging on to defeat the Montevallo Falcons 65-63 on the road. Ricky Dunnaway led the Tigers with 12 points and eight rebounds while Josh Fleming scored 11 and LaJuan Hardy finished with 10 points and six assists.

Fleming is the leading scorer at 13.3 points per game. Hardy is averaging 12.1 points, 5.4 assists and 5.0 rebounds a game. The assist average for still second in the conference for Hardy. DeAndre Harper (6.7) and Dunnaway (6.5) serve as the leading rebounders. Tyrus Grayson hasn't taken a ton of shots, but he's effective when he shoots going 71.2 percent (42-of-59) from the floor.

The Tiger defensive unit still ranks number one in the conference only allowing 64.3 points a game which is ninth in NCAA Division II.

Alabama-Huntsville is also 16-5 overall, but 10-4 in the conference. The Chargers are riding a four-game winning streak after sweeping the Mississippi schools the past two weeks. Last time out, UAH defeated Delta State. Sam Orf and Malik Cook-Stroupe both scored 16 points to lead in the win.

Orf is the leading scorer at 14 points a game. JJ Kaplan is averaging 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest while Seth Swalve is scoring 10. 8 points a game.

As a unit, UAH averages 11 made three-pointers a game while the defense ranks as fifth best in the conference with an average of 66.2 points allowed.

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Lee enters the weekend 11-10 overall and 8-5 in the conference, which is very much still in striking distance for first place in jampacked standings in the GSC. Currently on a two-game losing skid, the Flames will play Montevallo Thursday night before making the trip to Livingston.

Colton Blevins leads in scoring at 14.8 points per game while Ryan Montgomery is scoring 14 points and is the leading rebounder at 6.2 rebounds a game. Michael McGuirk is scoring at a pace of 11 points a game. Kentrell Evans leads the team in assists at 3.3 a contest while Parker Suedekum is up to 3.2 assists a game.

Lee has moved up to be the second-best defensive unit in the conference allowing 65.1 points a game.

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Players Mentioned

#14 Josh Fleming: G; 5' 9"; Senior

#15 Deandre Harper: F; 6' 7"; Junior

#23 Ricky Dunnaway: F; 6' 8"; Junior

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

#10 Tyrus Grayson: F; 6' 6"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#14 Josh Fleming
: 5' 9"; Senior
: G

#15 Deandre Harper
: 6' 7"; Junior
: F

#23 Ricky Dunnaway
: 6' 8"; Junior
: F

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

#10 Tyrus Grayson
: 6' 6"; Junior
: F