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Mike Davis
Michael Wade | Wade Event Photography
71
West Ala. WA 22-8,14-6 Gulf South
85
Winner Valdosta St. VSU 26-3,17-2 Gulf South
West Ala. WA
22-8,14-6 Gulf South
71
Final
85
Valdosta St. VSU
26-3,17-2 Gulf South
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
West Ala. WA 37 34 71
Valdosta St. VSU 39 46 85

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Tigers GSC Title Run Ends with Loss to VSU

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Every time the University of West Alabama men's basketball team closed the gap, the Valdosta State Blazers stayed just out of arm's reach to earn an 85-71 win over the Tigers in the Gulf South Conference Championship Tournament semifinals Saturday evening at the Pete Hanna Center on the campus of Samford University. 
 
UWA (22-8) was down 36-22 with 5:24 remaining in the first half before getting the offense cranked by going on a 15-1 run to end the first period and bring the half time score 39-37 in favor of the top seeded Blazers.
 
The Tigers briefly gained the lead in the second half and got up 41-39 at the 17:55 mark in the second half. However, from there the furious VSU offensive attack started as the team outscored West Alabama 46-34 in the second half en route to the 85-71 win which was the 19th straight victory for Valdosta State this season.
 
Despite playing limited minutes due to foul trouble, Mike Davis finished as the leading scorer for UWA 18 points along with eight rebounds and two blocks. Rene Scott scored 16 points in the loss while Second Team All-GSC selection Ricky Dunnaway posted a double double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
 
The backcourt pair of First Team All-GSC player LaJuan Hardy and Justin Allison resulted in 12 points, two rebounds and two assists for Hardy and 11 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals for Allison. No other players other than starters scored for the Tigers.
 
As a unit, UWA was 45.8 percent (27-of-58) from the floor, 21.1 percent (4-of-19) from three and 81.3 percent (13-of-16) from the free throw line.
 
The Blazer attack proved difficult to stop as Burke Putnam scored just one point shy of his season high with 29 points along with seven rebounds and two blocks. Imoaras Agee finished with 21 points and five rebounds, Darrell Jones went for 16 points and seven boards while Bryce Smith scored 10 points and added seven rebounds. 
 
VSU shot 50 percent (30-of-60) from the floor, 26.7 percent (4-of-15) from beyond the arc and 84 percent (21-of-25) from the charity stripe.
 
West Alabama's postseason hopes are now in the hands of the NCAA South Regional Selection committee of the season is to continue in the NCAA Championship Tournament. The 2020 DII men's basketball championship field will be announced at 9:30 p.m. tomorrow on NCAA.com.
 
For update information on the UWA postseason hopes, keep an eye on uwaathletics.com and various UWA Athletics social media platforms.
 
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