LIVINGSTON, Ala. - With three games left in the regular season, the University of West Alabama Men's Basketball team is set for a two-game road trip with a matchup against Montevallo slated for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and a contest against AUM on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.
West Alabama (13-12, 9-10 GSC) is currently the six seed in the GSC standings after wins over Union and Christian Brothers this past week while Montevallo (16-8, 12-6 GSC) is the third seed and has already clinched a berth in the Tournament. AUM (9-14, 6-12 GSC) is on the outside looking in, sitting in ninth after dropping seven of their last eight games.
Heading into the week, the Tigers have an opportunity to clinch a spot in the GSC Tournament with a win on Thursday and losses from Lee and AUM. After being up-and-down for majority of the season, UWA is beginning to find their rhythm. When Rasean Frederick went down for the year on January 18 against Alabama Huntsville, head coach Nick Woodruff and West Alabama had to regroup. Without their second leading scorer and rebounder, things were rocky at first but the Tigers are starting to click as they come into the week winners of three of their last four games.
As postseason play approaches, it's that time of the year when your best players take their game to another level and that's the case for UWA and Thaddeus Williams. After back-to-back 23-point performances, including a game-winner against CBU last weekend, Williams is now up to 15.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. The Tigers' Point Guard has been the most consistent scorer all season and they will need another big performance from him this week if they want to clinch a spot in the Tournament. Next to Williams, two-time GSC Freshman of the Week winner, Elliot Tulip is sourcing up opponents' scouting report. Tulip is arguably the best shooter on West Alabama's roster and is now developing a mid-range and slashing game which makes him hard to guard coupled with his 6'6" frame.
If Williams and Tulip continue to play at high levels along with the emergence of Jaylen Lemons, UWA will continue to trend upwards.
Montevallo defeated West Alabama, 83-73, in Pruitt Hall back in January but have since gone 5-4 in their nine game after. The Falcons have a one of the conference's best 'big threes' this season in the form of Brandon Fussell, Jaylen Curry, and Derek Moore. Fussell, a 6'1" Guard, runs the offense for Montevallo, leading the team in assists with 3.5 per game along with 16.1 points. As for Curry, he's a handful to handle down low as he currently leads the Falcons in scoring with 16.4 points while grabbing 6.1 rebounds per game. Moore operates the painted area alongside Curry. Standing at 6'7", the junior Forward leads the team in rebounding with 6.7 boards per game while adding 14.3 points, creating a big man duo with Curry that a lot of teams just can't compete with. Curry and Moore combined for 40 points and 13 rebounds in their first meeting against the Tigers as Dadrevius Weathers, Michael McIntosh, and Caleb McGill gear up for the rematch.
After their rematch against Montevallo on Thursday, West Alabama will gear up for a rematch against Auburn Montgomery on Saturday. Back on January 9, AUM defeated UWA, 82-77, but the Tigers were without Williams. The Tigers are seeking their revenge on Saturday but will have to deal with the size and talent of Malachi Rhodes. Rhodes is one of the more skilled bigs in the league, leading to the graduate student averaging 12.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Rhodes hasn't played his best basketball as of late, averaging just 8.0 points per game in the last three contests but is capable of a scoring outburst at any given time. Chappelle Whitney, Trent Coleman, and Paul Lanzi are all double digit per game scorers for the Warhawks also and will play with a different level of focus and energy with a GSC Tournament berth still in play.
Tip-off for Thursday's game against Montevallo is set for 7:30 p.m. while Saturday's matchup against AUM is set for 4:00 p.m.
