LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The University of West Alabama Men's Basketball team secured their second consecutive win in thrilling fashion courtesy of a game-winning layup from Thaddeus Williams, propelling the Tigers to a, 70-68, win in Pruitt Hall.
While scoring a game-high 23 points, Williams buried two clutch shots, with the first being a three at the end of regulation to force overtime while the other won the game for West Alabama (13-12, 9-10 GSC). The Senior guard converted on a layup with 3.1 seconds remaining in overtime, on Senior Day, to lift UWA over CBU (9-15, 5-13 GSC).
Christian Brothers' Christian Thompson had his fingerprints all over the first half as the Forward put together a statline of 10 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Thompson got CBU going early, scoring or assisting on six of Christian Brothers' first nine points, putting West behind by three, five minutes in. Over the next three minutes, the Tigers fell down 17-8 before a contested corner three from Caleb McGill sparked UWA. McGill's three was the beginning of a 9-2 West Alabama run, making it a two point game with 9:33 left in the period. Thompson went back to work for the Bucs but so did Williams who scored seven of UWA's next ten points, propelling the Tigers to their first lead of the game at 26-25. with 5:05 left in the half, Christian Brothers closed the period on a 8-2 run to take a 33-28 advantage into the half.
West Alabama shot 42 percent from the field in the first half but only shot 18.2 percent from three while Christian Brothers shot 41 percent from the floor and 28.6 percent from three.
The theme of the second half was defense. The Tigers held the Bucs to just four field goals through the first 12:48 minutes of the period, leading to a 49-45 lead. A three from Iman Kheirati got CBU back on track as his three sparked a 7-0 Christian Brothers run to put UWA behind, 52-50. The two teams traded punches down the stretch, resulting in West Alabama facing a 60-56 deficit with 11 second remaining. Travion McCray raced down the floor and made a layup with just two seconds coming off the clock before CBU's Tane Kirisome split his trip to the free throw line. Now down three with three seconds remaining, Williams connected on a deep three to tie the game at 61 at the end of regulation.
In overtime, UWA fell behind 67-63 with 3:14 left before five straight points from Jaylen Lemons gave the Tigers a one-point lead. Now up one with 25 seconds remaining, West Alabama fouled the Bucs' Allen Hughes who also split his trip at the foul line, tying the game at 68. UWA had the ball for the final possession of the game and with five seconds left, Williams blew past his defender to win it for the Tigers.
Besides his game-high 23 points, Williams also recorded five rebounds and three assists while McCray poured in 19 points himself.
West Alabama will be back in action on Thursday when they travel to Montevallo for a 7:30 p.m. matchup with the Falcons.
