The men’s basketball team fell to the University of West Alabama after a buzzer-beater tip-in gave the Tigers a 74-72 win over the Lions.

West Alabama was able to pull off the win after having three attempts to tip the ball into basket before the buzzer went off.

“There wasn’t really much to do when you have four people in there tipping the ball,” said senior forward Bruce Adams. “All we could do is try to tip it away from their goal.”

The game was typical for a Gulf South Conference match-up, said head coach Bobby Champagne.

“We didn’t box out and they got three shots,” Champagne said. “Typical Gulf South Conference game — lots of crazy stuff happens.”

West Alabama jumped off to a 9-0 lead to start the game and led 33-18 with six minutes and 15 seconds to go in the first half. UNA took a 41-39 half-time lead thanks to a 15-0 run before intermission.

The game was back and forth in the second half with the largest lead for both teams being just five. UNA tied the game at 72, off a Rashaun Claiborne free throw with 15 seconds left.

“Once we settled in after the first fifteen minutes of the first half it was a pretty good college basketball game,” said Champagne.

Adams led the way for the Lions with 18 points and seven rebounds. Fellow senior Wes Long chipped in for 17 points while shooting four out of five from three.

“This game is over with now,” Adams said. “We just (have to) make plays and we (have to) execute like in practice.”