HOMEWOOD, Ala. – For the second time in program history, the UAH men's basketball team captured the crown at the Gulf South Conference Men's Basketball Championships as the team defeated West Alabama 73-68 at the Pete Hanna Center on Saturday evening.
 
The Chargers (23-8) also earn the GSC's automatic berth to the NCAA South Regional to be held next weekend. UWA (22-11) has a strong shot at an at-large berth after its terrific campaign.
 
"This was a great win for our school," head coach Lennie Acuff said following the game. "We had to try and control the game and that speaks to UWA's credit – they're a great team. To beat them three times and Union three times is quite an accomplishment by these young men. I'm proud of them and thankful to be their coach."
 
UAH led for nearly 38 minutes of the contest, but the game was certainly in more doubt than that would indicate.
 
After Seab Webster – who was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after scoring 19 and grabbing 11 rebounds to lead UAH in the title game – hit a 3-pointer with 3:32 left in the game to make it a 69-59 advantage for the Chargers, West Alabama ripped off a 9-0 run over the next two minutes to cut it to just one at 69-68 with 1:23 remaining.
 
A turnover by UWA's Justin Wright with 37 seconds left gave the ball back to UAH, however, and Webster and Ronnie Mack made free throws in the waning moments to seal the contest for the tournament's top seed.
 
West Alabama – led by Charles Eaton's 18 points – finished the game shooting 41.1 percent compared to UAH's 43.6 percent, and the Chargers also held the advantage on the glass by a 36-32 clip.
 
Preston Herring was the only other Charger to score in double figures as he scored 16, and Kip Owens came off the bench to score seven big first-half points en route to finishing the night with nine to help the Chargers hold a 32-23 advantage at the break.
 
Eaton joined Wright on the all-tournament team, and Greg Gardner also represented UAH to join Webster.