LIVINGSTON, Ala. - After six non-conference games to begin the year, the University of West Alabama Men's Basketball team is set to open up their GSC schedule at home this week with a matchup against Valdosta State slated for Thursday at 7:00 p.m. followed by a meeting with West Florida on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.
UWA's contest against VSU on Thursday will be a Black Out theme, so the University encourages all fans to wear black in Pruitt Hall.
West Alabama (4-2, 0-0 GSC) enters their conference opener after a 72-60 win over Webster this past Saturday while Valdosta State (5-1, 0-0 GSC) comes in carrying a three-game winning streak with victories coming over Middle Georgia, Morehouse, and Thomas. As for West Florida (1-5, 0-0 GSC), they enter GSC play on a four-game losing streak with their latest defeat coming at the hands of Georgia Southwestern, 100-95, in double overtime.
In the head coach
Nick Woodruff era, the Tigers have been known for their defense, leading the conference in points allowed per game in all four years that Woodruff has been the leader of the program. The identity of the West Alabama Basketball program hasn't changed in 2024-25 as UWA continues to stifle opposing offenses and come into league play atop the GSC leaderboard in points allowed once again. This year, the Tigers are only allowing 60.4 points per game on 41 percent shooting and have held five of their six opponents to 60 points or fewer.
West Alabama's defensive prowess is supremely important when talking about the matchup against Valdosta State. For the last five years or so, the Blazers have been one of the most prolific scoring teams in the league and that remains the same this season. VSU is a fast paced team that wants to turn you over and get out and run on the fastbreak. The Blazers have successfully done that through six games this year as they average 97.5 points per game while forcing 20.8 turnover per game, resulting in 24.2 points off turnovers and 33.6 fast break points per game.
We'll see a massive contrast in styles on Thursday as the Tigers enjoy slowing the pace down and running their half court sets for their top offensive players in
Jaylen Lemons,
Thaddeus Williams, and
Marcellious Lockett who are combining to average 36 points. The Blazers want to get out in transition with their four double-digit per game scorers in Braxton Williams, Carlos Hart, Drew Mills, and Lucas Brown Jr. Williams and Hart are the main pillars offensively for VSU as the duo sits in the top-six in the league in scoring with 18.5 and 17.8 points per game, respectively.
For the Argonauts, they've struggled on the defensive end thus far, allowing 75.3 points per game, putting them last in the GSC. West Florida has given up 80 or more points in their last three games, coming into Saturday's matchup, which is why they currently hold a three-game losing streak. Offensively, UWF hasn't been much better, scoring 73.5 points per game which is 10th best in the conference. While the overall team numbers aren't great for the Argonauts, they still possess four double-digit point per game scorers on their roster, led by Guard Shay Davis. Davis is a 6'0" senior who leads West Florida in scoring with 12.2 points per game on 42 | 39 | 87 percent shooting splits. Davis has shined as a pure scorer for UWF, but in order for the Argos to take their offense to the next level and pull off the upset on Saturday, they will need Davis to be better as a playmaker as he brings a 0.6 assist-to-turnover ratio into this weekend's play.
Tip-off for Thursday's Blackout Game against Valdosta State is set for 7:00 p.m. in Pruitt Hall while Saturday's matchup against West Florida is slated for 6:00 p.m.
