LIVINGSTON, Ala. -- Travis Anderson nailed a contested three-pointer at the top of the key with less than five seconds left in regulation for the Auburn University at Montgomery men's basketball team, but the University of West Alabama answered on the other end with a three-point basket as time expired to steal a 66-65 win in front of a raucous crowd on Wednesday night at Pruitt Hall. 

James Graham led the way for the Warhawks with 18 points and 11 rebounds to go along with five blocked shots. Anderson doled out a game-high eight assists and added 15 points, while Jalen Gaston went 7-for-11 from the floor to total 16 points.

THE TIPOFF

Score: AUM 65, UAH 66
Records: AUM 8-10 (6-8 GSC) | UWA 14-4 (10-4 GSC)
Location: Montgomery, Ala. | AUM Athletics Complex
Series: UWA leads 12-1
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HIGHLIGHTS

• West Alabama opened up a 9-4 lead at the 12:50 mark of the first half as both teams struggled to get into an offensive rhythm.
• A couple of Graham jump shots helped AUM to an 8-2 response to jump in front 12-11 with 5:58 to play in the first half.
• Sam Youngblood capped a low-scoring half with an off-balance jumper to beat the buzzer and tie the game up 19-19 at the break.
• The Warhawks found their stroke in the second half, as they knocked down six second-half three-pointers.
• A Gaston jump shot pushed AUM's lead to 56-50, the largest of the night, with 4:45 left in regulation.
• Justin Allison immediately hit a three-point basket, Shardarrion Allen added two free throws and layup, and Allison made two more foul shots to give the Tigers a 59-58 lead with 1:49 to go.
• Graham swished home a tough fadeaway shot with 1:26 left to stake AUM back to a one-point lead, only to see Allen respond with an offensive rebound and stick back with one minute to play to put the Tigers up 61-60.
• 15 seconds later, Graham hit a bucket in the paint to take the lead 62-61, but again Allen had an answer to make it 63-62 UWA with 33 seconds left in the second half.
• Anderson banked in a contested three-point basket at the top of the key with 4.4 seconds remaining to put AUM in front 65-63, only to see Kuran Garner get a three-point attempt to bounce in as the Tigers walked off with a 66-65 win at the horn.

NOTABLES

• The lead changed hands seven times in the final 1:49 of game action.
• Anderson made it seven straight games scoring in double figures for the Warhawks. Graham has been in double-digits each of his last six games, and Gaston has dropped 10 or more points in his last five contests.
• Graham posted his third consecutive double-double, and his fifth this season, with his 18 points and 11 boards. He added five more blocked shots and is up to a league-leading 49 on the season.
• AUM shot 67 percent (18-of-27) and added a 6-for-8 clip from beyond the three-point line in the second half.
• UWA had a 17-9 advantage on the offensive glass and out-scored AUM 16-8 in second-chance points.
• The Tigers have won 12 consecutive games in the series. 

UP NEXT

AUM returns home to host Shorter University on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 4 p.m. at the AUM Athletics Complex for Faculty & Staff Appreciation Day.

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