CARROLLTON, Ga. - The University of West Georgia Men's Basketball team moved to 8-0 and defeated Valdosta State for the seventh straight time after a 97-74 win on Thursday night.
 
Camron Donatlan and Zawdie Jackson put together masterful performances as the duo combined for 57 points on 63% shooting, leading UWG (8-0,4-0 GSC) to their eighth consecutive double-digit win to begin the season.
 
It's really a team effort tonight," said head coach Dave Moore. "We had a lot of guys come off our bench tonight and give us a lot of help. Cam Donatlan was terrific and Zawdie is playing like a first-team all-league player and the Player of the Year. I'm really proud of Cam. They were playing off of him and daring him to shoot and he made them pay."
 
Donatlan put together one of the best halves of basketball you will ever see as the guard recorded 25 points on 10-16 shooting and 5-8 from three. Donatlan and Jackson got the party started with back-to-back buckets on UWG's first two possessions. Moments later, Donatlan buried threes in back-to-back possessions before Valdosta State (5-4, 2-3 GSC) went on a 9-0 run to take a 14-10 lead. The Blazers lead would be short lived as a three-point play from Jackson and a jumper from Marlon Smith put the Wolves back in front. West Georgia would never relinquish the lead again in the half as Donatlan and Jackson out-scored Valdosta State by themselves, leading UWG to a 45-35 lead at the break.
 
The Wolves shot 49% from the field and 39% from three in the period while holding the Blazers to 38.7% from the field and 33% from three.
 
Valdosta State came out and scored the first five points in the second half before back-to-back threes from Cole Fisher sparked an 11-0 run, giving West Georgia a 56-42 lead four minutes into the game. Fisher's threes started an avalanche of threes as Marlon Smith buried five threes in the half, leading to the Wolves creating distance from the Blazers as they led 84-59 with 7:29 left to play. UWG kept their foot firmly on the gas as they took their largest lead of the game at 91-65 with 3:26 left in the game as the Wolves cruised to a 97-74 win.
 
Donatlan led the way with a career-high 36 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three steals, two blocks while Jackson had 21 points and seven assists. Smith also had 17 points and two steals on five made threes.
 
"We feel great," said head coach Dave Moore. "The next challenge is over and now we're on to the next one. It's one at a time. We have a chance to have a special season."
 
West Georgia will be back in action on Sunday when they travel to Pensacola, Florida on Sunday for a 5:00 p.m. matchup against the West Florida Argonauts.