Box Score MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of West Georgia Men's Basketball team moved to 6-0 on the season after a 72-59 win over Christian Brothers on Thursday night.

#16 UWG (6-0, 2-0 GSC) was brilliant on the defensive side of the ball once again as the Wolves held Christian Brothers (2-3, 1-2 GSC) to 59 points on 38.7% shooting and 21.1% from three in route to their sixth consecutive double-digit win to begin the year.

"Christian Brothers played really well in that first half but we weathered the storm and got back into the game at the end of the half," said head coach Dave Moore. "In the second half, I feel as though we were hungrier, we wanted it more, and we really dug in defensively. The defense in the second half was the difference and I thought Zawdie (Jackson) controlled the game at the end."

West Georgia got off to a slow start offensively, leading to a 22-10 lead for Christian Brothers, eight minutes in, until Zawdie Jackson sparked the Wolves, by scoring five straight points to cut the deficit to seven. Michael Griffin and Marlon Smith have been great off the bench all season for UWG and provided exactly what West Georgia needed in the first half. Griffin checked in and was very active in the passing lanes, leading to a steal and a three-point play which was followed by a layup from Jackson to make it a 27-22 game with 7:58 left in the half. After a bucket from CBU's Christian Thompson, Smith got hot, scoring the next seven points for the Wolves to keep their deficit in single digits, before sinking his second three of the period to make it a one-point game at the half.

West Georgia shot 40.6% from the floor and 44.4% from three in the first half while Christian Brothers shot 48.4% and 33.3% from three.

The momentum UWG gained at the end of the first half carried over to the second as buckets from Amari Davis, Kolten Griffin, and Jackson gave the Wolves a 47-42 lead four minutes into the period.
Through the next couple of possession, the two teams traded buckets before West Georgia's defense completely took over the game. Up 49-47, UWG went on to hold the Buccaneers scoreless for six minutes, leading to the Wolves taking their largest lead of the game at 59-47. From there on out, West Georgia continued to clamp down on the defensive side of the ball, holding Christian Brothers to 29% from the field and 10% from three in the half, while Jackson slammed the door by scoring 15 of his game-high 23 points in the period to lead UWG to a 72-59 win.

Along with his 23 points, Jackson also finished with a game-high five assists and four rebounds on 70% shooting while Smith recorded 18 points and three rebounds on 50% shooting and 57% from three.
I'm really proud of the guys for the effort tonight," coach Moore continued. "It was a good win on the road."  

West Georgia will return to The Coliseum on Sunday when they welcome the Union Bulldogs for a 4:00 p.m. conference matchup.