UWG Wolves | Athletic Programs | Official Athletics Site

CHICAGO, Ill.- The University of West Georgia men's basketball team opened its 2026-27 campaign Monday night against DePaul, battling through a competitive first half before ultimately falling 75-58 to the Blue Demons at Wintrust Arena.

The Wolves showed early offensive rhythm, with Juaquin Dixon connecting on a step-back three-pointer for his first points in a UWG uniform to tie the game at 7-7. David Simon added to the early excitement with a poster dunk, while Kenneth Chime created a transition opportunity with a steal before finding Dixon for an alley-oop finish.

With the game tied at 11-11, UWG put together a 10-2 run to take a 21-13 advantage heading into the third media timeout. Eight different Wolves found the scoring column during the opening 15 minutes of action, showcasing the offensive depth throughout the lineup.

Chas Lewless helped extend the lead into double digits, scoring five consecutive points with a pull-up jumper and a three-pointer over 7-foot-2 Fabian Flores. Lewless made an immediate impact after returning to the floor following two early fouls.

DePaul responded coming out of the media timeout, putting together an 11-2 run to close the gap to 31-29 heading into halftime. The Wolves faced foul trouble throughout the opening half, accumulating 11 team fouls, with five players recording at least two fouls.

Despite the foul trouble, UWG received a strong contribution from its bench, which accounted for 13 first-half points. Justin Redmond led the reserves with five points, shooting 50 percent from both the field and beyond the arc. Eight Wolves scored in the opening half, with Lewless leading the way with seven points.

Head coach Dave Moore emphasized the importance of having multiple players capable of stepping into larger roles.

"There will be nights where you need guys to step up when others are in foul trouble, and we have 10 guys who are capable of playing for us on a nightly basis," Moore said. "I thought Marshal Destremau, Aleix Sempere, and Xavier Shegog all came in and played good minutes for us tonight."

Defensively, UWG held the Blue Demons to just 29.6 percent shooting from the field and 11.8 percent from three-point range in the first half. Magoon Gwath led DePaul with 10 points, three rebounds and two blocks, while Koree Cotton added eight points, including six from the free-throw line in the first 20 minutes of action.

DePaul found its offensive rhythm coming out of the break, with Gwath and Flores scoring on consecutive possessions. Sempere answered for the Wolves with an and-one finish in the paint to halt the Blue Demons' early momentum.

However, DePaul soon put together a 17-3 run, fueled by four three-pointers from Ade Popoola, to build a 49-39 advantage. The Blue Demons maintained their lead down the stretch as both teams continued to battle, eventually securing the 75-58 victory.

Despite the result, Moore was encouraged by Redmond's offensive production and ability to contribute in multiple roles.

"He was one of the few guys for us who shot efficiently. He was shooting the ball with confidence" Moore said. "He showed his versatility, being able to play the one and two, and his ability to handle the ball and score tonight will be big for us all season."

Redmond led the Wolves offensively with 13 points and four rebounds, shooting 55 percent from the field and 60 percent from three-point range. Dixon also reached double figures with 10 points and six rebounds, while Lewless finished with nine points, three rebounds and a team-high five assists.

Chime led UWG defensively and on the glass, recording nine rebounds, two steals and a block. DePaul featured four players in double figures to lead its offensive effort.

The Wolves continue their tour of Chicago Thursday, November 5, traveling across the city to face Loyola Chicago in their second game of the 2026-27 season. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.