LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama men's basketball team opens the NCAA South Regional Tournament on Saturday with a matchup against No. 6 West Florida at 11:00 a.m. CST.
West Alabama (26-5, 19-3 GSC) enters the NCAA Tournament as the No. 3 seed after recording a 26-5 regular season record. West Florida (25-8, 15-7 GSC) comes into the tournament after defeating the Tigers, 76-69, to capture the GSC Tournament Championship.
Saturday's contest between the Tigers, the GSC Regular Season Champions, and the Argonauts, the GSC Tournament Champions, will be the fourth matchup between the two GSC heavyweights this season. UWF leads the season series 2-1, winning the last two meetings in Pruitt Hall. West Alabama defeated West Florida, 60-57, in the first matchup of the season in Pensacola.
Through the first three meetings, West Florida has only outscored West Alabama by six total points, a 2.3 scoring margin, showing just how evenly matched the two teams are. Offensively, UWA hasn't played its best against UWF, averaging 68.0 points per game on 39 | 35 | 73 percent shooting splits. On the other side, the Argonauts are averaging 70.3 points per game on 48.7 percent shooting and 45.7 percent from three-point range. Those shooting splits are the highest that West Alabama has allowed among teams they have played two or more times this season.
Entering the NCAA Tournament, BJ Brown Jr. averaged 20.3 points, 5.3 assists, and 2.7 steals per game during the GSC Tournament, raising his season averages to 11.1 points, 5.8 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. The Tigers' point guard has taken his game to another level and will need to play his best against West Florida on Saturday for West Alabama to advance to the regional semifinals.
While Brown Jr. made the GSC All-Tournament Team, so did Rasean Frederick. UWA's First Team All-GSC selection averaged 15.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game through three games in the GSC Tournament. Frederick remains the Tigers' leading scorer with 12.5 points per game. The forward has been ultra-aggressive as of late, attempting 32 shots and 22 free throws over the last three games.
Christian Thompson proved why he was named GSC Defensive Player of the Year, averaging 1.7 blocks per game during the GSC Tournament. The forward also averaged 9.3 rebounds and 8.0 points while shooting 53 percent from the field.
Elliot Tulip, Caleb Parr, Jakobe Singleton, Amillion Buggs, KJ Anderson, and Albright Obode round out the rotation for West Alabama. The Tigers are talented and deep, which has helped them reach 26 wins this season. One team that has given UWA trouble, however, is West Florida. The Tigers and Argonauts are arguably the two best teams in the GSC, with the winner advancing to the regional semifinals and the loser heading to the offseason.
West Florida is led by GSC Tournament Most Outstanding Player Aric Demings. Over the last four games, Demings is averaging 22.0 points per game, raising his season average to 15.0. He scored 21 points on 12 shots against UWA in the GSC Championship game and has been a tough cover for the Tigers.
Alongside Demings are Anthony Igiede, Elijah Wyche, and Tim Hall Jr. Igiede is averaging 15.8 points per game and scored 19 against West Alabama in Sunday's championship game. Demings and Igiede form a dynamic scoring duo on the perimeter, while Wyche and Hall Jr. do their work in the paint.
Wyche is averaging 14.1 points and 6.5 rebounds this season, while Hall Jr. adds 10.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
There will be plenty of talent on the floor to open the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, making No. 3 West Alabama vs. No. 6 West Florida one of the most anticipated first-round matchups.
Tip-off is set for 11:00 a.m. CST | 12:00 p.m. EST at Rick Case Arena in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
