VALDOSTA, Ga. – The University of West Georgia men's basketball team had its incredible run come to a close on Sunday evening in the round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament.
The No. 5 Wolves fell to Flagler, the No. 1 seed in the South Region and No. 8 team in the country, in a 69-53 decision at The Complex on the campus of Valdosta State, ending a tremendous season that saw UWG win 13 of its last 16 games following a 1-5 start.
Third-year UWG head coach
Dave Moore was disappointed with the ultimate result on Sunday evening, but he was especially proud of his ballclub and the strides it took this season as one of the final 32 teams left standing in the nation.
"We took a big, giant step forward toward that. We were 9-19 last year. It wasn't very good. We finished the year strong, but then we started the year 1-5. So to go from 1-5 to 14-8 is a credit to our players," Moore said. "Players win games. I haven't made a basket in a college game since 1997. Players win games. Our guys really came together and we went on this run because of them."
The Wolves (14-8) struggled from the floor on Sunday after taking down rival Valdosta State on Saturday evening, shooting 21-of-62 (34%) from the field and 5-of-26 (19%) from beyond the arc.
Flagler head coach Chad Warner credited the Wolves for their spirited effort and also acknowledged how much energy they spent the night before in the win over the host and rival Blazers.
"They played a very physical, emotional game (Saturday) night, West Georgia did. When you come in and beat Valdosta on their floor, that is a tough, emotional game. So we did feel like, hey, let's play our game, let's keep pushing it and let's keep trusting it. We even said that in the huddle. We cramped and I don't think they cramped," Warner said. "But that's the benefit of getting a first-round bye this year. And, hopefully, that played into it."
The Saints (16-2), who stretched their win streak to 14 in a row, overcame a 19-14 deficit in the first half with a strong finish, taking a 38-27 advantage into the locker room, as UWG didn't connect on a field goal for the final 4:19 of the half.
The second half took a tough turn when All-Gulf South Conference guard
Michael Zabetakis was ejected for an F2 foul call, sending the Wolves' top scorer and rebounder to the locker room on the questionable whistle with 15:37 remaining in the game.
West Georgia cut the deficit to seven points, but Flagler delivered back-to-back 3-pointers near the midway mark of the second half and remained in control down the stretch to advance to Tuesday evening's South Region championship.
Flagler senior forward Chris Metzger scored a game-high 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting with seven rebounds, while senior guard Jaizec Lottie, who is in the top-10 scoring in the NCAA, finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
The Wolves were led by senior guard
Kadeim Jones with 16 points, while fellow senior
Oronte' Anderson also reached double-figures offensively with 11 points. Junior forward
Tavion Robinson had a solid night off the bench with eight points and nine rebounds.
Jones stressed that there is much more left in the tank for West Georgia hoops, and he's more than ready to return next season and build on this foundation.
"Our team knew that we wanted more for ourselves than what we did last year. We really just came together. After practice, we were in the locker room talking about what we needed to do and just coming together," Jones said. "Next year, coach is bringing me back, of course. But we're just going to work harder. We know our formula and everything. We're just going to come back stronger next year."
Moore, who came to West Georgia following a successful run as an assistant at Division I St. Bonaventure, is also confident that something special is on the horizon for West Georgia hoops.
"That's why we came here. I had a really good job at St. Bonaventure. They just won the Atlantic 10 season and Atlantic 10 Tournament, as an assistant. But I came here because I thought it was an opportunity to go to a place and help rebuild a program that I believe can win a national championship. And that's what we're working toward every day," Moore said.
"West Georgia is a great place. It's a place with a lot of resources. It's a place with a lot of support. I couldn't be more happy or proud to be the head coach of West Georgia and continue to move this program forward."
