TWO MORE AT HOME: The UAH men's basketball team will continue its three-game homestand this week, hosting No. 14 Valdosta State at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday before turning around to welcome No. 15 West Florida for a 4 p.m. contest on Saturday. The Chargers enter the weekend at 12-7 overall and 5-6 in GSC play.
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LAST TIME OUT: The Chargers were tripped up by visiting North Alabama 75-72 as the Lions used a late surge to push past UAH.
Chayse Elliott scored 21 and handed out six assists in the setback to lead the Chargers.
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AROUND THE GSC: UAH is in the middle of a five-team pack that have six losses in GSC play with Mississippi College and Delta State tied for sixth at 6-6 while Christian Brothers, UNA, and UAH are all tied for sixth at 5-6. Two other teams – Lee and Montevallo are just one game ahead of the Chargers in fourth at 6-5, while Valdosta State (10-1), West Florida (9-2), and West Alabama (8-3) own the top three spots, respectively, in the standings.
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ELLIOTT ON FIRE: Since scoring just two points in a road setback at Montevallo, senior
Chayse Elliott has been strong for the Chargers as in those 11 games he is averaging a team-best 18.7 points per game thanks to a 55.9 percent mark from the floor which includes a 54.5 percent showing from beyond the arc. Additionally, he has grabbed 5.0 boards per game during the span while also ranking second on the team with 40 assists.
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WELCOME BACK: True freshman
Sam Orf saw his first action since early December when he logged 18 minutes against North Alabama in his return from injury, and the St. Charles, Missouri, native turned in his fourth-best scoring performance of his 10 games as he went 3-for-6 including two 3-pointers en route to scoring eight.
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OFFENSIVE SUCCESS: The Chargers are the third-best team in scoring in the GSC, ranking behind Valdosta State and West Georgia with 85.4 points per game. Additionally, the team is tops in the league with a 49.6 percent mark from the floor and is also first in the conference from beyond the arc where the team shoots 41.3 percent.
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ABOUT VALDOSTA STATE: The Blazers have won 10 straight entering Thursday night's game to own a 17-2 (10-1 GSC) record, and the squad features the most-potent offense in the GSC as it averages at 94.6 points per game. Reigning GSC Player of the Week Beau Justice leads a group of five players scoring in double figures as he is scoring 20.9 points per contest.
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SERIES HISTORY: Valdosta State holds a slim 27-26 advantage all-time against UAH, though UAH took two of the three meetings last year between the two programs including a victory in the GSC tournament championship game. In Huntsville, the two teams played a classic in which VSU ultimately prevailed 84-81 in overtime.
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ABOUT WEST FLORIDA: UWF will visit North Alabama on Thursday night as owners of a 17-2 (9-2 GSC) record after being tripped up by Auburn Montgomery this past Sunday. The Argos also have players scoring in double figures led by Darryl Tucker's 15.4 points per contest, and he also leads the team on the glass as he is nearly averaging a double-double with 9.3 rebounds per outing.
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SERIES HISTORY: UAH holds a 35-15 advantage against the Argos all-time after sweeping the two meetings last year. In the Rocket City, the Chargers were 76-70 winners.
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