CARROLLTON, Ga.- The University of West Georgia men's basketball team will close out its preseason schedule on Sunday afternoon, welcoming in-state opponent Kennesaw State to The Coliseum for a 2 p.m. exhibition matchup. Sunday's contest will mark the first opportunity for fans to see the 2026-27 Wolves in action, and with no stream available, fans are encouraged to attend in person.

Kennesaw State enters the exhibition following a successful 2025-26 campaign, finishing 21-14 overall with a 13-3 record at home and a 10-10 record in Conference USA play. The Owls capped their season by capturing the Conference USA Championship with a 71-60 victory over Louisiana Tech, earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Kennesaw State faced third-ranked Gonzaga in the first round, where its season came to an end with a 73-64 defeat. 

The Wolves feature several newcomers who will look to make an immediate impact, including junior college standout Juaquin Dixon. A Chicago native, Dixon arrives from Malcolm X College after starting all 32 games and averaging 22.0 points per game on 51 percent shooting, along with 1.8 steals per contest. His production earned him City Colleges of Chicago Men's Basketball Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive season, NJCAA Region 4 Player of the Year recognition and an NJCAA All-American honorable mention.

Standing  at 6-foot-11, David Simon brings size and perimeter shooting to the frontcourt after transferring from Vermont. The Windsor, Ontario, native earned Canadian National Player of the Year honors in high school and appeared in 18 games for Vermont last season, averaging 3.4 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. Simon shot 65 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from three-point range while recording a career-high 18 points against Pepperdine.

Lou Hutchinson III adds valuable Division I experience as a redshirt senior transfer from Alabama A&M. Hutchinson started all 33 games for the Bulldogs last season, averaging 4.0 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. He tied his career high with 15 points against Indiana.

Chas Lewless headlines the returning backcourt after an injury limited his availability last season. The guard from Detroit, Michigan, started 10 games and averaged 12.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. One of his most memorable performances came against eventual Sun Belt champion Troy, when he scored a career-high 26 points in a 93-89 double-overtime victory, including 20 points in overtime. 

Micah Smith also returns to the Wolves after missing last season due to injury. The former Georgia Southern forward played in 21 games and made four starts during the 2024-25 campaign, averaging 3.4 points and 1.9 rebounds while recording 10 blocks and nine steals. A three-star high school prospect, Smith was ranked 34th among power forwards in the 2024 recruiting class and 14th among players in Georgia. 

Kenneth Chime is another key returner in the frontcourt. The redshirt sophomore appeared in 32 games and made 28 starts last season, averaging 5.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while shooting 58 percent from the field. Chime ranked second on the team and third in the ASUN with 1.6 blocks per game, leading all ASUN freshmen in the category. His 50 blocks tied for sixth in UWG single-season history. 

The excitement will continue after Sunday's exhibition, as fans, alumni, and supporters are invited to gather on the porch at Jefferson's at 5:30 p.m. following the 2 p.m. matchup at The Coliseum. Head coach Dave Moore will speak at the event, offering attendees an opportunity to hear from the leader of the Wolves.