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Darrell Redden Jr.

Men's Basketball Darrell Redden Jr.

Buzzer Beater Stuns Tigers in Memphis

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A floater at the buzzer sunk the University of West Alabama Men's Basketball team in their first game in 2025 as the Tigers fell, 63-61, to the Christian Brothers Buccaneers on Thursday. 

West Alabama (8-5, 4-3 GSC) put together a solid defensive performance, holding Christian Brothers (6-6, 2-4 GSC) to 63 points but the Tigers' first half offensive struggles hurt them in the end.

Rasean Frederick and Jaylen Lemons got things started for West Alabama out of the gate as Frederick converted on a layup before Lemons buried a three on the Tigers' next possession, giving UWA an early 5-3 lead. Two minutes later, Lemons connected on another jumper to make it a 7-5 lead but that's when West Alabama's offense went cold. The Tigers shot 3-14 from the floor along with six turnovers over the course of the next 12 minutes, leading to Christian Brothers taking an 18-14 lead. Moments later, a three from the Bucs' Kyler Mann ignited a 10-2 CBU run, putting UWA in a 28-18 deficit with 3:31 left in the half. Down 10, the Tigers threw their counterpunch, using a 7-0 run to make it a four-point game as we reached halftime.

West Alabama shot 41 percent from the floor in the first half while Christian Brothers shot 43 percent and turned the ball over 10 times.

CBU extended their lead to eight four minutes into the second half after a jumper from Christian Thompson and a free throw from Allen Hughes. UWA desperately needed a spark and got one from Thaddeus Williams and Marcellious Lockett. The Tigers duo anchored a 12-3 West Alabama run, giving UWA their first lead of the second period at 41-40 with 11:35 left to play. After the Tigers obtained the lead, the game saw six lead changes and five ties over the next eight minutes with West Alabama clinging to a one-point lead with 2:37 left to play after a three-point play from Frederick. With 1:21 remaining, Christian Brothers' Hughes knocked down a three to give the Bucs a 61-59 lead before Frederick knotted the game up at 61 with another layup. With eight seconds on the clock, Hughes raced down the court and made a floater at the buzzer to beat West Alabama 63-61.

Frederick led the way with a team-high 17 points and 10 rebounds while Williams added 16 points.

UWA will be back in action on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. in Jackson, Tennessee for a matchup against the Union Bulldogs.

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Players Mentioned

Jaylen Lemons

#4 Jaylen Lemons

G
5' 11"
Senior
Thaddeus Williams

#22 Thaddeus Williams

G
5' 11"
Senior
Rasean  Frederick

#2 Rasean Frederick

G/F
6' 5"
Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

Jaylen Lemons

#4 Jaylen Lemons

5' 11"
Senior
G
Thaddeus Williams

#22 Thaddeus Williams

5' 11"
Senior
G
Rasean  Frederick

#2 Rasean Frederick

6' 5"
Redshirt Junior
G/F