LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The University of West Alabama Men's Basketball remained perfect at home on Thursday, defeating the Delta State Statesmen, 78-75, in a classic in Pruitt Hall.

West Alabama (6-4, 3-2 GSC) put together their best offensive performance of the season on Thursday, shooting 60 percent from the field and 47 percent from three to secure their three-point win over Delta State (6-5, 2-3 GSC).

UWA got off to a blistering start offensively that they carried throughout the first period. Back-to-back threes from Jaylen Lemons and Marcellious Lockett was the beginning of the Tigers scoring 14 points in the first five minutes. Powered by Chris Terrell and Decorian Payton, Delta State's offense began to click as the duo combined for eight points over the course of the next few possessions, making it a 20-18 game with 9:25 left in the half. At this point in the game, Coach Woodruff inserted Charles Fofanah into the game and he made an immediate impact offensively. The Junior buried a turnaround jumper to give West Alabama a 24-18 lead before going on to score eight more points in the final seven minutes of the half to give UWA a 39-36 lead at the break.

West Alabama shot 61 percent from the floor and 50 percent from three in the first half while Delta State shot 50 percent from the field and 47 percent from three.

Fresh off a 15-point first half, Terrell got right back to work in the second, hitting a three to start the period, tying the game at 39. The Tigers responded by scoring seven unanswered points to take their largest lead of the game with 17:37 left to play. The back-and-forth action continued as the Statesmen used a 11-2 run to take their first lead of the game since the 2:25 mark of the first half. The two teams traded the lead three times over the next couple of possessions before Lockett carried a 17-8 UWA run, giving the Tigers their largest lead of the night at 68-60 with 5:03 left to play. Down eight, it was make or break time for the Statesmen and they fought back, using a 10-4 run to make it a 72-70 game with 52 seconds remaining. A basket from Thaddeus Williams and free throws from Lemons put the Tigers back up by six with 36 seconds left to play which was too much for Delta State to overcome as West Alabama picked up a colossal three-point conference win.

Lemons, Lockett, Fofanah, and Rasean Frederick all scored in double figures led by Lemons' team-high 17 points.

UWA will be back in action on Saturday when they host Mississippi College at 4:00 PM in Pruitt Hall.