ATLANTA, Ga. – The University of West Georgia Men's Basketball team ended opening weekend flawless after an 83-71 win over the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish.
UWG (2-0) put on another defensive clinic as the Wolves held Palm Beach Atlantic (1-1) to 36.8% from the field and 33.3% from three in route to their 12-point win.
It was a back-and-forth start to the game as West Georgia held a 27-25 lead 16 minutes into the first half. Moments later, the Wolves extended their lead to seven after five straight points from
Marlon Smith.
Camron Donatlan put the finishing touches on an 11-point first half with a layup before free throws from
Zawdie Jackson and
Cole Fisher gave the Wolves a 38-28 lead at the half.
West Georgia held Palm beach Atlantic to 39% from the floor in the first period, leading to their 10-point lead.
The Sailfish cut the Wolves lead down to six multiple times to begin the second half, but West Georgia wouldn't let them get any closer as a bucket from Smith and a three-pointer from Donatlan gave UWG their largest lead of the game at 51-41. With just under 13:00 minutes to play, the teams traded baskets until
Zawdie Jackson changed the complexity of the game, by scoring 10 straight points, putting West Georgia up 70-56 with 4:18 remaining. Down by 14 with time running out, Palm Beach Atlantic didn't lay down and used an 11-5 run to cut UWG's lead down to eight before Jackson and Smith closed out the game at the free throw line, propelling the Wolves to an 83-71 win.
Jackson led the way with a game-high 31 points, while Donatlan finished with 20.
West Georgia will be back in action on Saturday when they open up their home schedule with a 4:00 p.m. matchup against Fort Valley State.
