LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Defense was the name of the game in the second half for host University of West Alabama. The Tigers held the visiting Lee University men's basketball team to only 24 points in the second stanza and posted a convincing 64-49 victory over the Flames at Pruitt Hall on Thursday evening.

The loss dropped the Flames to 2-1 in GSC play and 5-2 overall while the surging West Alabama team improved to 3-0, 7-1. Lee will have to regroup quickly and get ready for another tough challenge on Saturday afternoon when they move over to the University of Alabama in Huntsville for a 5 p.m. EST tip.

The Tigers led by a 26-25 margin at the halftime break. Both teams shot 39% from the field in the opening 20 minutes, but the Tigers held the Flames to only 27% shooting in the second stanza and made over 45% of their shots in pulling away for the win.

Lee finished the contest with 32% shooting overall (17-of-53) and hit 7-of-23 triples (30%). They were awarded only 11 charity tosses and canned eight. On the other hand, UWA tallied 42% (21-of-50) overall shots made and attempted eight treys in the entire contest and converted two. A key difference was 26 free throws and 20 makes.

Turnovers were just about even. Lee had 12 and the Tigers 11, but the home club outrebounded the Flames 39-26. UWA totaled 36 points in the paint and held Lee to 20.

Zach Gray paced the Lee scoring with 16 points. Tylon Chatman was the only other Flame in double figures with 10. Willie Walton came off the bench and paced Lee in rebounding with six.

PJ Brown, Jr. was 8-of-8 from the free-throw line and led the Tigers with 16 points. Caleb Parr followed closely with 15 points while Christian Thompson was the big man inside. He had 12 points but pulled down 18 game-changing rebounds.