SHELTON, Ala. (Interstat) — The Shelton State Buccaneers used a dominant defensive performance and a significant advantage at the free-throw line to defeat the Wallace State Lions 71-61 in a men’s junior college basketball game on Monday, February 23, 2026.

The most important part of the game was Shelton State’s ability to consistently generate stops and capitalize on Wallace State’s offensive inefficiency. While both teams struggled from the field, the Buccaneers’ defense was the catalyst for their victory. They blocked nine shots, recorded six steals and forced 11 Wallace State turnovers, effectively disrupting the Lions’ offensive flow throughout the contest.

Wallace State’s shooting woes were severe. The Lions made just 23 of 75 attempts from the floor, a 30.7 percent clip, and were only 8 of 35 from three-point range. Despite holding a 45-46 rebounding disadvantage and attempting just 11 free throws compared to Shelton State’s 33, the Lions kept the game competitive through sheer volume of possessions, taking 77 trips down the floor. However, their offensive rating of 79.0 points per 100 possessions underscored their struggles.

Shelton State was not much more efficient from the field, shooting 23 of 60 overall and a dismal 3 of 23 from beyond the arc. The decisive difference came at the charity stripe, where the Buccaneers converted 22 of 33 attempts. Wallace State, in contrast, made just 7 of 11. Shelton State’s offensive rating of 99.1, while not stellar, was markedly better than the Lions’ output.

Shah Hall led all players and was the top star for Shelton State, scoring 20 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. Rodwick Jackson added 19 points, eight rebounds and five blocks for the Buccaneers, whose interior defense anchored by Jackson and Hall proved formidable.

For Wallace State, Viczavious Madden and Trey Knight each scored 15 points. Knight added seven rebounds and four assists, while Tyson Barrett contributed nine rebounds and two blocks.

The game was a rematch from just two weeks prior, when Shelton State won 101-80 at Wallace State on February 9. With Monday’s result, Shelton State improved its season record to 16 wins and 6 losses. Wallace State fell to 12-11.

Shelton State is scheduled to play next at Southern Union State on Thursday. Wallace State will travel to face Coastal Alabama on the same night.