BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of West Alabama men's basketball team was defeated by the top-seed in the University of West Georgia 68-59, Saturday in the Gulf South Conference Championship Semifinals at the Pete Hanna Center on the campus of Samford University.
Thaddeus Williams gave the Tigers a 4-1 lead less than two minutes into the contest, but a quick 8-0 run from the Wolves and Zawdie Jackson gave the Wolves an 8-4 lead with 15:11 to go in the first stanza.
With just over five minutes to go in the half, Marlon Smith capped off an 11-0 West Georgia run to give the Wolves a daunting 16-point lead, 26-10.
The Tigers answered with a 9-0 run led by Terry Durham to cut the UWG lead to seven, 26-19, with three minutes left in the first half.
After West Georgia stretched their advantage back out to double digits with a Malcolm Noel triple, a Terry Durham free throw and Tyler Talley layup cut the deficit back down to single digits, 33-24, going into intermission.
The Wolves held control of the contest through the first five minutes of the second stanza, never allowing the Tigers to get within nine points.
West Georgia went cold from the field for almost four minutes, allowing West Alabama to climb back to within a possession with a CJ Melton three, making it a 44-41 game with less than 12 to play.
Kuran Garner tied the contest up at 46 with a left-wing 3-pointer off an assist by Terry Durham, putting the Tigers back in business with less than 10 minutes to go.
West Georgia and West Georgia exchanged blows for almost five minutes, with Garner tying the game back up at 52 with another three with less than five to go.
Unfortunately for the Tigers, West Georgia exploded for a 10-0 run capped off by a Jackson triple, giving UWG the 62-52 lead with 2:23 to play.
Despite Garner cutting the Wolves' lead to five with a minute to go, UWA could not climb back from the double-digit deficit.
Despite the loss, Terry Durham left in all on the court in what could be the final game of his collegiate career, dropping 19 points and a career-high 20 rebounds on 7-for-13 shooting. Durham snagged a career-high 11 offensive boards.
Durham is the first West Alabama player with 20 rebounds since Nov. 7, 2019, when Deandre Harper grabbed 23 against Christian Brothers.
Kuran Garner contributed 16 points, including two clutch threes to keep the Tigers' hopes alive late in the contest.
CJ Melton added seven points and five rebounds.
Zawdie Jackson led the Wolves with 24 points on 9-for-19 shooting.
West Alabama finishes the season with a 19-11 record. West Georgia moves to 25-5 en route to the GSC title game.
