HIGHLIGHTS | PHOTOS
HUNTSVILLE | The University of Alabama in Huntsville men's basketball team dropped a 74-66 decision to visiting West Alabama on Thursday night at Kelly Court at Spragins Hall. The Chargers slip to 5-3 (2-1 Gulf South Conference) with the setback, while UWA improves to 4-4 (1-2 GSC).
 
For the fourth time this season, senior Greg Gardner led the Chargers offensively as he took over the team lead in scoring with a 19-point night to go along with seven rebounds and five assists, and the point guard is now averaging 14.8 points per contest.
 
Gardner was joined in double figures by Brandon Roberts who scored 18, while Preston Herring added 16 and grabbed a team-best eight rebounds.
 
UAH jumped out to a 6-0 lead to start the contest, but the Tigers went on a 15-2 run over five minutes to go in front 20-10 at the midway point of the opening half. UWA proceeded to lead the rest of the period, and it was a 10-point advantage at 39-29 at the halftime break.
 
The lead ballooned to as much as 12 for the Tigers who were ahead 45-33 at the 16:30 mark, but UAH then went on a 13-0 run over the next 2:54 to claim its first lead since early in the contest at 46-45 with 13:36 left.
 
Following that strong stretch for UAH, the lead would exchange hands five times and the contest would be tied twice, but with the Chargers in front 63-59 with just over three minutes left, the Tigers would hold UAH to just one more basket, outscoring the hosts 15-3 down the stretch to secure the victory.
 
For the contest, UAH shot 42.3 percent, while UWA connected on 46.8 percent of its attempts including hitting nine 3-pointers. Rebounds in the game were even at 30 for each team.
 
The Chargers return to action on Saturday when West Georgia visits. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. at Kelly Court at Spragins Hall.