LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The University of West Alabama Men's Basketball team is set for their final non-conference matchup before GSC play as they host Oakwood University on Sunday for a 3:00 p.m. tip.
West Alabama (3-1, 0-0 GSC) enters Sunday's game after a dominant 99-45 win over Huntingdon College. For Oakwood (2-6, 1-1 HBCU), they come to Livingston after picking up their first conference win of the season against Voorhees College.
Entering Sunday, the Tigers are coming off their best offensive performance of the young season. In their 54-point win over Huntingdon College, UWA shot 55.2 percent from the floor and 51.9 percent from three. After their 99-point outburst, West Alabama is now averaging 79.0 points per game. On the defensive side, the Tigers have been brilliant per usual as they lead the GSC in points allowed with a 61.3 mark.
After a quiet first three games, Elliot Tulip turned in his best performance of the year against the Hawks. The sophomore's usage rate was a lot higher which resulted in the Wing recording a career-high 24 points on 7-13 shooting and 5-11 from three. Tulip is one of the most gifted shooters on the roster but his game continues to improve inside the three-point line, making him more of a pure scorer. Along with Tulip, Christian Thompson continues to impress. The Forward is a disruptor in the paint as he registered eight points, nine rebounds, four blocks, and two steals in 20 minutes against Huntingdon College. Thompson has a real chance to lead the GSC in rebounds and blocks this season as he's proven to be one of the best in the Region in those two categories with his play thus far.
Oakwood University plays in the HBCU Athletic Conference as a Division II Institution. The Ambassadors have struggled to begin the year, bringing a 2-6 overall record into Pruitt Hall after a 4-25 campaign last season. Oakwood is averaging 76.6 points per game while allowing 90.0 points per game on 49.8 percent shooting. The Ambassadors have allowed over 80 points in five of their eight games, including 124 points to Dalton State.
Though they've struggled to get stops this year, Oakwood has one of the top scorers in the country on their roster in Jordan Bell. Bell, a 6'6" Power Forward, is averaging 25.5 points per game on 55.2 percent shooting through the Ambassadors first eight games. The senior has scored 20 or more points in every game, including a season-high 39-point performance against Tennessee Southern on November 4. Rasean Frederick or Christian Thompson will most likely get the start on Bell as they look to do something no team has been able to do thus far, slow him down.
Along with Bell, Joshua Barnett and Jordan Hill are both averaging double figures. Barnett, a 6'6" Combo Guard, is Oakwood's best perimeter player, averaging 11.3 points per game. Hill is a 6'6" Small Forward that is averaging 11.0 points per game but has only scored 13 points total in his last two games, coming into Sunday.
Oakwood has some size and talented offensive players on their roster, but on paper, West Alabama is the more talented team. Sunday's matchup will be another opportunity for a new look Tigers team to get acclimated to one another before conference play begins next week.
Sunday's game between West Alabama and Oakwood is set for 3:00 p.m. CST from Pruitt Hall.
