LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama men's basketball team is set to host No. 3 West Florida in the Gulf South Conference Championship on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Pruitt Hall.
West Alabama (26-4, 19-3 GSC) punched its ticket to the title game with an 80-72 win over No. 4 UAH on Thursday. No. 3 West Florida advanced to the championship after defeating Lee in the semifinals.
UWA and UWF split the regular-season series, with the Tigers earning a 60-57 win in Pensacola while the Argonauts claimed a 78-75 victory in Pruitt Hall. In both games, West Alabama struggled offensively, shooting 40 percent from the floor. In the first meeting, UWA held UWF to 40 percent shooting as well, but the Tigers struggled to contain the Argonauts in the second matchup as West Florida shot 57.7 percent from the field in its three-point win.
Through two games in the GSC Tournament, UWA is averaging 77.5 points per game while shooting 48 percent from the field. The Tigers have also held opponents to 66.0 points per game and 37 percent shooting.
BJ Brown Jr. is the current frontrunner for the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award. The point guard is averaging 24 points and 5.5 assists through West Alabama's two wins over Delta State and UAH. Efficiency was an issue for Brown Jr. at times during the regular season, but when he is scoring at a consistent rate, he becomes one of the top point guards in the region.
After leading the Tigers in scoring during the regular season, Rasean Frederick has continued to provide a steady offensive presence, averaging 14.0 points and 5.5 rebounds during the GSC Tournament.
Reigning GSC Defensive Player of the Year Christian Thompson has also made a strong impact, averaging 10.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game in the tournament, showcasing why he earned the conference's top defensive honor.
Off the bench, UWA may have the best sixth man in the conference in Jakobe Singleton. Singleton has been sharp over his last four games, averaging 12.8 points per game while shooting an eye-popping 81.5 percent from the field. The junior is a talented scorer who gets to his spots with ease, possessing one of the best midrange jump shots on the Tigers' roster while also being extremely effective around the rim.
Adding this level of production from Singleton to a West Alabama lineup that already features Brown Jr., Frederick, Thompson, Elliot Tulip, and Caleb Parr makes the Tigers even tougher to prepare for.
West Florida enters the championship as one of the conference's most efficient offensive teams. The Argonauts are averaging 86.3 points per game while posting impressive shooting splits of 49 percent from the field, 39 percent from three-point range, and 76 percent from the free-throw line.
UWF features three dynamic scorers in Aric Demings, Elijah Wyche, and Anthony Igiede.
Demings, the newly minted GSC Newcomer of the Year, enters Sunday averaging 14.8 points and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 49 percent from the field, 47 percent from three-point range, and 81 percent from the free-throw line. In two meetings with West Alabama this season, Demings has averaged 12.5 points and 3.5 assists.
Wyche is averaging 14.2 points and 6.5 rebounds for the Argonauts. The 6-foot-6 forward has been playing his best basketball recently, averaging 17.5 points and 8.5 rebounds on 65.2 percent shooting in the GSC Tournament. Against UWA this season, Wyche is averaging 12.5 points and 5.0 rebounds.
Igiede leads West Florida in scoring with 15.6 points per game. The wing is shooting 45 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range, making him one of the league's top all-around scorers. The redshirt junior did not play in UWF's 78-75 win over UWA in January but scored 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting in the first meeting between the teams.
West Florida presents matchup problems for teams across the region, but West Alabama prides itself on its defensive identity, setting the stage for an intriguing GSC Championship matchup on Sunday.
Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. at Pruitt Hall.
