LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The University of West Alabama Men's Basketball team is set to begin GSC play on Thursday with a 7:00 p.m. CST matchup against the Valdosta State Blazers at the Complex in Valdosta, GA.
West Alabama (4-1, 0-0 GSC) enters the conference opener after a 106-57 win over Oakwood University on Sunday. As for Valdosta State (4-1, 0-0 GSC), they enter after a 103-91 road victory over Emory Riddle on Saturday.
Five games into the season, UWA has inserted themselves on both ends of the floor. Coming into Thursday's game, the Tigers rank fifth in the country in scoring margin after improving their mark to 29.0 with a combined 101 margin of victory over Huntingdon and Oakwood. Defensively, West Alabama is playing up to their standard as they rank sixth in the country, by holding opposing teams to 60.3 points per game.
Offensively, four UWA players are averaging double figure points. Caleb Parr is currently the team's scoring leader with 12.5 points per game, followed by Rasean Frederick with 12.0, Elliot Tulip with 11.5. As a team, the Tigers are averaging 89.3 points per game on 47 percent shooting and 42.6 percent from three, led by the trio of Parr, Frederick, and Tulip. BJ Brown Jr. conducts the offense and has quickly emerged as one of the top playmakers in the region. Brown Jr. is averaging 6.3 assists and has recorded 16 total in the last two games. Brown Jr. and Travion McCray have led UWA to a 1.9 assist-to-turnover ratio which will be a crucial part of the game against a Valdosta State team that presses full court for 40 minutes.
On the glass, Christian Thompson has been tenacious. Through five games, the forward is one of the nation's top rebounders in the country as he comes into Thursday's game averaging a double-double with 12.5 points and 11.5 boards per game. Thompson has also been the Tigers' best rim protector as he's averaging 1.8 blocks.
Valdosta State is known for their full court press and scoring prowess. The Blazers are averaging 96.3 points per game on 47.2 percent shooting while forcing 18.3 turnovers a game.
Similar to West Alabama, VSU's offensive attack has been a balanced one as they have six players on their roster averaging over 10 points per game. Guard, MJ Jones leads the way with 14.6 points per game on 56 | 44 | 78 percent shooting splits, but Blaise Wallace has looked like the best player on the Blazers' roster this season.
Wallace, a 6'7" transfer Forward from Albany State, comes into GSC play averaging a 13.6 point, 12.0 rebound double-double. The Forward has recorded a double-double in four of five games, including a 18-point, 19-rebound performance in the season opener against Edward Waters. Pairing Wallace with Preseason All-GSC selection, Drew Mills, has proved to be an incredible duo for VSU. Mills is averaging 13.2 points and 5.0 rebounds on 49 percent shooting.
While Jones, Wallace, and Mills is Valdosta State's 'Big Three', Devon Rainey, Maalik Leitch, and Peter McKey also averaging double digit points, making the Blazers a hard team to contain.
Thursday's matchup between West Alabama and Valdosta State is destined to take the center stage on conference opening night.
Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. CST at the Complex in Valdosta, GA.
