CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College men's basketball team opens Gulf South Conference play this weekend when they travel to face West Alabama on Thursday night in Pruitt Hall. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

This will be the 62nd all-time meeting between the two schools with MC holding a 31-30 edge in the series. MC and UWA opened the series in the 1955-56 season with the Tigers grabbing a 78-69 victory.

Last season, the schools renewed their rivalry with the Choctaws transitioning back to Division II and the Gulf South Conference. The Tigers won both meetings, picking up a victory in Clinton (78-69) and in Livingston (74-58).

The Choctaws are led by head coach Don Lofton, who comes into his 12th season with his 200th career victory in sight. Lofton, who has been a part of the program for more than 30 years, has won 190 games as the head man.

MC opened the 2015-16 season with a 71-67 victory over Belhaven on Friday (Nov. 13). The Choctaws erased an 11-point second half deficit, led by a balanced effort of scoring with five players tallying double-figure scoring.

The Choctaws then traveled to Mobile for a non-conference game against Spring Hill, falling to the Badgers (70-63). MC opened the game with a 16-9 advantage, but a 16-1 run by SHC gave them the lead for good.

Tory Rice recorded his second double-double in as many games this season, scoing 23 points with 13 rebounds. The Starkville native went 8-of-14 from the field and 7-of-9 from the foul line, bringing down seven offensive rebounds in the game.

The Choctaws then played two non-countable NCAA games, coasting to victories over North American University (117-60) and College of Faith (94-68).

MC has made a three-pointer in 460 consecutive games, dating back to March 5, 1998 (0-7 vs. Sewanee). This season, MC has continued the streak but are shooting just 22% (10-of-46) from long range. Opponents are shooting 47% from behind the arc on the year.

The Choctaws have four players averaging in double-figures: Rice (19.5 ppg), Tristan Moore (12.0), Johnny Rucker (11.5) and Jonathan McGee (10.0). Rice is averaging a double-double with 12.0 rebounds per contest.

The Tigers are led by head coach Allen Sharpe, who enters his second season at the helm. The UWA head man won his 300th career game this season with an 87-74 win over LeMoyne-Owen on November 19th. The 300 wins have come in just 14 seasons as a head coach.

UWA opened the season with a 90-78 victory over defending Division II national champions, Florida Southern. They would go on to drop games to Eckerd and Stillman before responding with victories over LMC and Stillman.

The Tigers are shooting 42% from the floor and 39% from the three-point line through their first five games. They are outrebounding their opponents by 9.0 per game and shooting 79% from the foul line.

Deontaye Ewing leads UWA with 14.2 points per game, followed by Jahmal Lane (13.4) and Simeon Dennis (13.0). Tyler Chaisson leads the team with 8.8 rebounds per contest.