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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Champions of the regular season, the No. 6 University of Alabama in Huntsville men's basketball team is set to open play at the 2013 Raymond James Gulf South Conference Basketball Championships on Thursday when it plays eighth-seeded West Georgia at 7:30 p.m. at the Hanna Center on the campus of Samford University in Homewood, Ala.
The Chargers enter the contest with an overall record of 22-4, while the Wolves own a 9-17 mark.
UAH enters the tournament as the No. 1 seed after winning the program's fourth straight regular season title - two in divisional play and two in the league's current format. A season ago, the Chargers rode the No. 1 seed to the championship with a 58-43 victory over Christian Brothers to win the tournament for the first time in program history.
The Chargers are aiming to become just the fifth team in the history of the GSC to win back-to-back tournament championships. Former member Jacksonville State was the first school to perform the feat while Arkansas Tech - also a former member - was the latest to do it as it won in 2009 and 2010. Delta State is the only current institution to have won in consecutive years as the Statesmen captured titles in 1997 and 1998.
The UAH roster features four players who hail from the Birmingham area including GSC Player of the Year
Jaime Smith who starred at Hoover High School. Sophomore
Ronnie Mack and freshman
Garrett Cosgrove both attended Oak Mountain High School, while
Michael Gilmore - who is redshirting this season - played at Center Point High School.
Since dropping two out of three during a tough stretch for the Chargers in the middle of January, the team has won nine of 10 with the only setback a road loss at Christian Brothers who finished second in the league. UAH averaged nearly 71 points per contest during the stretch, and the squad finished the year winning four straight games that were decided by four points or less.
The Chargers swept the season series from West Georgia, winning 81-71 at home in the league opener on Nov. 29 and capturing a 59-42 victory at Carrollton.
Zane Campbell and Smith both scored 22 in the home win, while Campbell again led the team with 14 points in the road triumph.
Live stats and video for the contest will be available, and the game will be heard in the Tennessee Valley on 97.7 The Zone.
Fans are encouraged to follow the Chargers on Facebook (facebook.com/uahchargers) and on Twitter (@uahchargers), and supporters of the Blue and White may sign up for text and e-mail updates at uahchargers.com.
