CARROLLTON, Ga. – The University of West Georgia Men's Basketball team is set to play their third game in five days as the Wolves play host to the Delta State Statesmen on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. for a mid-week GSC contest.
#19 West Georgia (12-2, 8-2 GSC) enters Wednesday's game on a three-game winning streak after handling the Lee Flames on Monday, 80-66. As for Delta State (8-5, 6-4 GSC), they come in after dropping three of their last four games, with their one win coming over Shorter last Tuesday.
"Delta State's got five guys on the floor that can score," said head coach
Dave Moore. "They're a very good three-point shooting team so we've got to make it hard on them. Coach Nienaber has done a great job of putting that team together and its going to be a big challenge for us especially with one day of prep."
#19 UWG welcomes DSU to The Coliseum on Wednesday night where they have been dominant all season long. After the Wolves 14-point win over the Flames on Monday, they moved to 7-0 at home. The Coliseum has been an incredibly hard place to play for opposing teams as all of West Georgia's seven wins have been by double figures, leading to a staggering 19.3 scoring margin.
The usual duo of
Zawdie Jackson and
Camron Donatlan lead the Wolves into Wednesday's contest. Jackson is as rock solid of a point guard that you will find in the country. At this point in his career, the junior is going to be at the top of every opposing team's scouting report but all of the special players in the game of basketball have a counter to everything a defense throws at them and Jackson fits into the category of 'special players'. After a 15-point, five-assist game on Monday, the guard enters Wednesday's game averaging 20.8 points, 5.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game on 53% shooting and 47.1% from three.
Donatlan is one of the best slashing two-guards that you will find in the country. With his 6'3, 195 pound frame, the guard has a rare combination of strength, quickness, and athleticism, making it nearly impossible to keep him from getting to the paint where he shines. The senior showcased his unique slashing ability on Monday when he recorded 36 points and 10 rebounds on 14-20 shooting, marking the first 35-point double-double for UWG since Marquill Smith did it back on February 14, 2019. After his career performance against the Flames, Donatlan is now averaging 17.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals on 51% shooting.
After a rough 2022-23 season where they finished with a record of 7-20, Delta State is much improved in the 2023-24 campaign as the Statesmen have already surpassed seven wins just 13 games into their season. Delta State has been much better on the offensive end this year as they rank fifth in the GSC in points per game with 81.5 on a 46.8% field goal percentage which ranks sixth.
Leading the way for the Statesmen is forward Maalik Cartwright. Cartwright is one of the most talented players in the conference and is arguably the most versatile. The senior stuffs the stat sheet for the Statesmen as he leads them in scoring, with 17.4 points per game, rebounds, with 7.4 boards per game, and assists with, 4.1 dimes per game. Cartwright has recorded four double-doubles this season and is shooting 60% from the field through 13 games, but he has yet to face a defender like UWG's
Kolten Griffin who will most likely get that assignment.
While the Wolves possess the best duo in the GSC in Jackson and Donatlan, the Statesmen may just possess the best trio with guards Chris Terrell and Keithean Brooks forming a high-powered offensive triad with Cartwright. Terrell sits second on Delta State in scoring with 16.3 points on 47% shooting and 39% from three while Brooks sits right behind with 16.2 points on 44% shooting and 36% from three.
Tip-off is set for Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in The Coliseum.
