BIRMINGHAM – The University of Alabama in Huntsville men’s basketball team’s run at the 2023 Gulf South Conference Men’s Basketball Championships came to an end with a 71-69 loss to fourth-seeded West Georgia in the semifinal round at the Pete Hanna Center on the campus of Samford University. UAH slides to 25-7, while UWG improves to 20-8.

The Chargers now await the NCAA tournament selection show on Sunday at 10 p.m. CT, which will announce the field for the 2023 NCAA Division II South Region Men’s Basketball Championships.

The NCAA South Regional will take place from March 11-14 on the top seed’s campus. UAH was recently ranked second in the region by the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Committee ahead of the GSC tournament semifinals.

Luke Burnett posted a team-high 20 points over 35 minutes on the floor, as the sophomore went 8-for-14 from the field and 4-for-8 on three-pointers.

Burnett was joined in double-figure scoring by three more Chargers, including Max Shulman at 13 points, Chaney Johnson at 13 points and Jack Kostel at 12 points. Shulman and Kostel tied for the team lead with seven rebounds and four assists apiece.

UAH shot 42.4 percent from the floor (25-59), while excelling beyond the arc with a 44.4 three-point percentage.

This was the UAH men’s basketball program’s 22nd run at the GSC tournament and the 14th time the team has reached the semifinals.