LIVINGSTON, Ala. — The University of West Alabama Men's Basketball team secured an 86-81 victory over Delta State on Saturday night at Pruitt Hall.
No. 18 UWA (20-3, 15-2 GSC) capitalized in the paint with 48 points, helping to maintain a narrow lead despite a strong second-half surge from Delta State (8-13, 5-11 GSC).
"At this point, our mindset is to go 1-0 everyday," said head coach Nick Woodruff. "Now that was not a pretty win, and I'm not real happy about our defensive performance in the second half. Our first half defense won us that game."
The Tigers capitalized on a dominant inside game in the first half, outscoring Delta State 32-8 in the paint, which contributed to a 45-31 lead at halftime. West Alabama held a significant rebounding advantage, collecting 23 boards compared to the Statesmen's seven, allowing for sustained offensive pressure and 13 second-chance points. West Alabama also showcased depth with 14 bench points, with Jakobe Singleton scoring majority of those points. UWA also converted 19 of 34 field goals, while Delta State struggled with just 12 of 25 shooting.
The Tigers maintained their lead in the second half, despite the Statesmen's 50-point effort in the half. West Alabama capitalized on rebounding, securing a 14-9 advantage on the boards, which helped them limit second-chance opportunities for the visitors. Their eight assists, compared to Delta State's six, facilitated a balanced offensive attack that included four three-pointers. Despite committing seven turnovers, West Alabama's defensive presence was felt with two blocks and two steals, allowing them to withstand the Statesmen's push. Travion McCray hit a couple of timely threes as UWA held on to win, 86-81.
Singleton scored 20 points on 8-for-9 shooting, leading the team in scoring. Elliot Tulip added 17 points, converting three 3-pointers. Rasean Frederick matched Tulip's 17 points and recorded five rebounds, while also going perfect from the free-throw line. BJ Brown Jr. facilitated the offense with nine assists and contributed five rebounds. Christian Thompson collected 13 rebounds, contributing significantly to the team's effort on the boards.
No. 18 West Alabama will hit the road next week for a matchup against Union on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
