TUSCALOOSA – West Alabama men’s basketball fell to Stillman College 70-63 on Saturday despite a spirited final minute rally.

The West Alabama Tigers (3-5) took an early 8-5 lead in the first six minutes of the game but could not hold off a 16-4 point run response by Stillman (4-4). The Stillman surge included three consecutive three pointers from Jeffrey Wherry, Damian Ford and D’uanaway Barnes to put give the Stillman Tigers a 24-12 lead.

West Alabama found an answer to the Stillman run in the final five minutes of the first half with 12-7 run of its own to cut the deficit down to 43-35 heading into halftime.

In the second half UWA continued to chip away at the Stillman lead to cut down to five in the opening minutes of the half. However Stillman responded again, this time with a 13-6 point run to push its lead to 63-49 with seven minutes remaining in the game.

West Alabama would not quit as the Tigers fought back once more in the final minutes with a 14-4 point run that cut the lead back down to five, but it would not be enough as Stillman claimed the final 70-63 victory.

West Alabama senior Jared Woolfolk, in his first start of the season led his team in scoring with 17 points. Junior Mychal Bester broke his career single game scoring record with 13 points.

The Tigers now move to 0-4 on the road this season. They will now have to wait until after the holidays for redemption when the Tigers return home to face William Carey on Dec. 29.