CARROLLTON, Ga. - The University of West Georgia Men's Basketball team bounced back in a big way and clinched a hosting spot in the opening round in the GSC Tournament after a dominating 83-54 win over the Alabama Huntsville Chargers on Saturday. 

Even without one of their best players in Camron Donatlan, West Georgia (21-3, 17-3 GSC) put together another defensive clinic as they held Alabama Huntsville (15-9, 13-7 GSC) to a season-low 54 points and 34 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from three.

"It's a big step forward that we can win like this without our second leading scorer," said head coach Dave Moore. "Cam gives us 17 and seven a night and he's involved with what alot that we want to do. For us to be able to put together a complete win like this without him in the lineup is very important for our confidence going forward."

Cole Fisher got West Georgia going early as the shooting guard buried back-to-back threes in the first four minutes, propelling UWG to an 8-1 lead. While Fisher got the Wolves' offense going, West Georgia's defense, which was without one of their best defenders in Donatlan, stifled a high-powered Alabama Huntsville offense. The Chargers had 14 points at the 10:00 minute mark and ended up finishing the half with 18 total points. The Wolves' defense stole the show in the first half while Marlon Smith and Zawdie Jackson carried the load offensively as West Georgia went into the break up 37-18.

UWG shot 44.4 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from three in the period while holding UAH to a staggering 20 percent from the floor and 16.7 percent from three.

It was much more of the same for the Wolves in the second half as threes from Zawdie Jackson and Smith immediately extended West Georgia's lead to 25. UAH's Jack Kostel answered with a three of his own before Amari Davis scored five straight points, putting UWG up 48-21, three minutes in. Alabama Huntsville was much better on the offensive end in the second half as they shot 48 percent from the field and 40 percent from three, but Jackson and company would never let the Chargers back in the game as the junior went for 18 points in the half. As the blowout continued, West Georgia got their lead up to as much as 36 points and went on to win, 83-54.

Jackson finished with 30 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds on 69 percent shooting while Fisher recorded 14 points and a career-high nine rebounds. Smith, who filled into the starting lineup for Donatlan, finished with 14 points and four rebounds.

"Zawdie performed like the All-League player that he is,"  coach Moore continued. "He controlled the pace, made big plays, and hit big shots when we needed them. He's playing like the Player of the Year in our league and he obviously stood out today."

UWG will be back in action on Wednesday when they travel to Cleveland, Tennessee for a matchup against the Lee Flames.