LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The University of West Alabama Men's Basketball team is set to wrap up the 2025-26 regular season on Friday with a 7:30 p.m. rematch against UAH.
No. 11 West Alabama (24-3, 19-2 GSC) enters the regular season finale on a six-game winning streak with their latest win coming over AUM, 103-65. As for UAH (19-8, 14-7 GSC), they enter Friday's matchup after a 24-point loss to Montevallo at home.
Every team wants to be playing their best basketball, heading into postseason play, and the Tigers can confidently say that they are doing so. UWA has been dominant the entire season but over the course of their six-game winning streak, the Tigers are outscoring opponents by an average margin of 17.0 points.
West Alabama possesses the most balanced team in the conference and one of the most balanced teams in the country as all five of their starters are averaging double-figures. Rasean Frederick is the leading scorer with 12.4 points on 47.3 percent shooting. Elliot Tulip follows closely behind with 11.3 points while Caleb Parr pours in 10.8 a night. BJ Brown Jr. adds 10.1 points and 5.9 assists, and Christian Thompson tops things off with 10.0 points per game. On top of the balanced starting five, Jakobe Singleton has been one of the top sixth mans in the league this season, averaging 8.4 points on 51 percent shooting.
The Tigers play the game the right way, with all five players on the floor locked in on the defensive end while closing out possessions with a defensive rebound. Coupling this with a plethora of naturally talented offensive players is what makes West Alabama so hard to beat.
UAH will look to be the fourth team this year to crack the UWA code.
The Tigers and the Chargers first met in Livingston earlier this year where West Alabama took home a dominant 70-54 win. In that game, West Alabama held UAH to a season-low 29.5 percent shooting and 17.5 percent from three.
Other than their first matchup against the Tigers, the Chargers' offense has been one of the best in the conference. UAH comes into the regular season-finale averaging 83.0 points per game on 47 | 38 | 75 percent shooting splits. The Chargers have scored 90+ points in nine games this year and are led by backcourt duo of Quentin Toles and Thomas Allard.
Toles currently leads the team with 16.5 points per game on 43 percent shooting and 40 percent from three. The senior guard is one of the best shooters in the conference. The Tigers contained Toles well in the first meeting, holding him to 14 points on 4-11 shooting.
As for Allard, he's a big physical guard who's averaging 14.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and a team-high 3.7 assists per game. Allard turned in one of his worst games of the year against West Alabama back in January, scoring eight points on 4-14 shooting and 0-5 from three.
Friday's matchup will feature two GSC Juggernauts. UWA looks to conclude their regular season, 25-3 while UAH hopes to clinch a home game in the GSC Quarterfinals.
Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
