Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

UWG Wolves | Athletic Programs | Official Athletics Site

Scoreboard

Schedule

Official Website of the UWG Wolves
SWD
Benjamin Lilley
76
Eastern Ky. EKU 4-11,0-2 ASUN
88
Winner West Ga. UWG 8-6,2-0 ASUN
Eastern Ky. EKU
4-11,0-2 ASUN
76
Final
88
West Ga. UWG
8-6,2-0 ASUN
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Eastern Ky. EKU 37 39 76
West Ga. UWG 33 55 88

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Danny Talbert

Explosive Second Half Lifts UWG to Home Win

CARROLLTON, Ga. - The opening weekend of ASUN play sees the UWG men's basketball team start 2-0 in conference following an 88-76 win over Eastern Kentucky at home this afternoon (Jan. 3).

Fueled by Shelton Williams-Dryden's fifth double-double of the season, featuring a career-high 32 points, UWG (8-5, 2-0 ASUN) outscored EKU (4-11, 0-2 ASUN) 55-39 in the second period to run away with its first-ever win over the Colonels.

"In the first half, I wasn't being as efficient. I was attacking, but shots that I make, I wasn't making," said Williams-Dryden. "Coming into the second half, I knew I had to make shots and be more aggressive. My teammates picked me up, gave me confidence and got me the ball."

Williams-Dryden led the Pack with 32 points and 13 rebounds while shooting 59 percent (13-22) from the field. Eastern Kentucky was led by Juan Cranford Jr. with 20 points while shooting 58 percent (7-12) from the field and 60 percent (6-10) from three.

"Just a really impressive performance by our guys," said head coach Dave Moore to open the post-game press conference (see full presser below). "Out of the gate, we struggled a little bit with their physicality. They are a really physical team. They want to press you, get in your face, bully you. We struggled to find our rhythm in the first half, but I thought we made plays down the stretch in the first half that kind of got us on the right track. Got us believing. Then the second half, from beginning to end, is as complete a half we have played this year." 

Saturday's ASUN action opened with the Wolves struggling to get their shots to fall. By the time Williams-Dryden rolled in the first UWG layup, three minutes had already passed.

Even with UWG going 1-for-6 (17 percent) to open the game, EKU was unable to pull away due to the Colonels also shooting a cold 2-for-6 (33 percent) from the field.

With the Pack getting an early nine points from Williams-Dryden, UWG overtook a 16-13 lead by the 12-minute media timeout. 

Over the next six minutes, neither squad's offense could get enough going to create a cushion, resulting in the game being tied at 20 apiece with six minutes remaining in the half.

With EKU taking advantage of multiple UWG turnovers, the visitors pushed out to a 37-27 lead, but the Pack continued to fight. 

In the final 90 seconds of the period, Josh Smith drained a free throw, layup and a three, cutting the EKU advantage to 37-33 at the break. Williams-Dryden's 11 points pushed the pace for UWG in the first half.  

Highlighted by a pair of three-pointers, the Colonels' lead began to balloon in the second period after they opened the half going 6-for-7 (86 percent) from the field. By the time the first media timeout rang out, UWG trailed 51-44.

West Georgia quickly recovered after Williams-Dryden and Kolten Griffin both tallied four points each, dashing the visitors' lead to 53-52 with an 8-2 run.

Williams-Dryden continued to give EKU fits on both sides of the floor. With the forward adding a quick six points to his already impressive total, UWG took a 65-62 lead with under eight minutes to play.
 
With Griffin, Malcolm Noel and a host of other Wolves adding to the UWG scoring attack, West Georgia's lead ballooned to 74-64 with under five minutes left.

The Colonels began to chip away at the UWG advantage after its shots began to fall from three. With just over one minute left, West Georgia held a tight 82-76 lead.

Capped off with a highlight real alley oop from Griffin to Kenneth Chime, the Wolves pulled away late, going on to win 88-76. 

UWG kicks off its four-game road swing next week at North Florida. Tipoff on Thursday (Jan. 8) is set for 7 p.m. 

NOTABLE NUMBERS 
-Four Wolves scored double-digits today. Following Williams-Dryden's career-high, Griffin dropped a season-high 16 points, Smith tallied 15 points and Noel scored 13.
-Today's double-double from Williams-Dryden marks the 11th of his career. 
-UWG is now 6-2 at home this season. 
-The Wolves outrebounded EKU 42-31.
-West Georgia shot 71 percent from the field in the second half.
-UWG finished the day shooting 54 percent from the field, 23 percent from three and 77 percent from the line. EKU shot 44 percent from the field, 31 percent from three and 50 percent from the line. 
Print Friendly Version