Box Score BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UWG men's basketball team fell just short of a GSC Championship on Sunday as the Wolves fell 67-65 to the West Alabama Tigers.

West Georgia (20-9, 17-7 GSC) shot 43.4% from the field and 31.6% from three, while West Alabama (26-5, 19-5) shot 41.7% from the field and 46.2% from three.

"We knew that this was going to be a difficult game," said head coach Dave Moore. "West Alabama is a really good basketball team and all credit goes to them. Bottom line is that we had a lot of open shots that we didn't make. If we make some of those shots and shoot 40% from three instead of 31%, we got a chance and I wouldn't have to draw up a play at the end to try to get us a last second shot."

West Georgia got out to a fast start to begin as the Wolves made eight of their first 10 shots to take a 18-9 lead nearly eight minutes in. After UWG's hot start offensively, West Alabama clamped down defensively and held the Wolves scoreless for the next eight minutes, propelling the Tigers to a 27-20 lead with 4:08 left in the half. Moments later, UWA's Terry Durham made three free throws to give UWG their largest deficit of the game at 30-20. A Zawdie Jackson jump shot halted West Alabama's momentum as the jumper sparked a 7-2 run that cut West Alabama's lead to five at the half.

West Georgia shot 43% from the field and 33% from three in the first half, while West Alabama shot 38% from the floor and 50% from three.

Three minutes out of the break, UWA took their largest lead of the game at 42-31 before Jackson and Camron Donatlan combined to score the next nine points for UWG, cutting the Wolves' deficit to four with 14:51 left to play. The Tigers responded by scoring five unanswered points until Jackson went on a personal 6-0 run to make it a one-point game which was followed by a Kolten Griffin free throw that tied the game at 49 with 9:09 left. With every one in the Pete Hanna Center on their feet, the two GSC powerhouses went basket-for-basket over the next seven minutes, leading to a 65-62 West Alabama lead with 53 second remaining. After Michael Zabetakis swiped a massive steal, J.J. Barnes buried a three to tie the game at 65 with 15 seconds left. On the next possession, UWA's Shadarrion Allen drew a foul and made both free throws to propel the Tigers over the Wolves, 67-65.
Jackson finished with a game-high 19 points on 53.3% shooting, while Jalen Sasser recorded a 12-point, 10-rebound 60% shooting. Donatlan finished with 13 points and two steals while Zabetakis scored 12 points.

West Georgia will now wait for Selection Sunday to see if they will punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament. Selection Sunday is set for 11:00 p.m. on March 5.

We have to move on and hopefully we get a chance in the NCAA Tournament," coach Moore added. Hopefully this isn't the last game for these guys."