UWA men fall to Bucknell

NIAGARA, N.Y. – Mike Muscala scored 14 points to lead Division I Bucknell to a 69-52 college basketball victory over West Alabama Sunday at the Gallagher Center as part of the 2K Sports Classic for Wounded Warriors.

The victory improves Bucknell to 5-0. An exhibition game for West Alabama, the loss will not count against the Tigers overall record, which remains 1-1.

Bucknell led 10-8 at the first media timeout, but put together an 11-2 run to go ahead 21-12 by the under 12-minute media timeout in first half. UWA cut the lead to 24-17 with 7:56 left in the first period, then held Bucknell scoreless for 7:12 before the Bison took a 38-24 advantage into the intermission.

The Bison extended a 17-0 run by scoring the first nine points of the second half, taking the lead to 47-27 and then to 59-29 with 10:40 left to play.

DeMarco Spears and Kyle Belcher came off the bench to score 14 and 11 points, respectively, for West Alabama. Steven Samuels scored 10 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out five assists for the Tigers.

Bryson Johnson and Cameron Ayers scored 11 points each for Bucknell, who barely outrebounded the Tigers, 33-32.

UWA returns to action Wednesday against Tennessee Wesleyan at Pruitt Hall Gym on the UWA campus. Tipoff is 2 p.m. and tickets are available at the door.