CARROLLTON, Ga.- After winning their second consecutive home game against Lipscomb, West Georgia men's basketball returns to The Coliseum on Saturday afternoon to host North Alabama. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m., with Senior Day festivities setting the stage. Fans are encouraged to pack The Coliseum and support the Wolves' seniors, while those unable to attend can catch all the action live on ESPN+.
West Georgia (13-16, 7-10 ASUN) snapped a three-game losing streak and now rides a two-game home winning streak into the matchup, while North Alabama (9-19, 4-13 ASUN) enters Carrollton after breaking a two-game skid with a victory against Bellarmine in its most recent outing.
Saturday's matchup marks the 74th all-time meeting between the two programs. The series dates back to the 1981-82 season, when UWG dropped the inaugural contest 84-73. In the first matchup this season, the Wolves delivered a statement 82-73 road win behind one of the top individual performances of the year. Josh Smith erupted for a career-high 28 points, shooting 9-13 from the field and 5-7 from three-point range. He went 5-6 from the free throw line, and added four rebounds and two assists in the matchup.
Shelton Williams-Dryden provided his usual interior dominance with 21 points and a team-high 10 rebounds, securing a double-double while also dishing out three assists. In this performance, Williams-Dryen officially broke into the top 10 in scoring all-time for UWG. Malcolm Noel added 16 points, three rebounds, six assists, and a steal, helping stretch the floor and keep pressure on the Lions' defense. The Wolves as a team shot 50 percent from the field and knocked down 10 three-pointers.
For North Alabama, Donte Bacchus led all Lions with 26 points on 10-16 shooting and nine rebounds, while Kevin de Kovich added 20 points, knocking down two three-pointers. Corneilous Williams anchored the glass with nine rebounds to go along with six points. Despite shooting 49 percent from the field, the Lions could not defeat UWG.
In UWG's most recent outing, the Wolves secured an 84-78 victory over Lipscomb, showcasing balanced scoring and efficient offense. Shelton Williams-Dryden led the charge with 24 points and seven rebounds, finished 10-15 from the field and added three assists.
Josh Smith once again provided a scoring spark off the bench with 17 points, including a perfect first half from the field. Kolten Griffin stuffed the stat sheet, scoring 12 points and adding five rebounds, two assist, two blocks, and three steals, while Kenneth Chime made his presence felt inside with six points, five rebounds, and two blocks.
In the Lions last game, Donte Bacchus led the way with 20 points and 13 rebounds, recording a double-double, while also contributing an assist and two blocks. Corneilous Williams followed with 17 points and 10 rebounds, also securing a double-double. Cortez Graham-Howard chipped in 15 points off the bench, and the Lions shot 53.9 percent in the second half to close out the victory.
From a team perspective, West Georgia is averaging 76.5 points per game while shooting 45 percent from the field and 34 percent from beyond the arc. The Wolves have also established themselves as one of the top rebounding teams in the league, ranking second in the ASUN at 36.4 rebounds per game. Defensively, UWG has been dominant at the rim, leading the conference in blocked shots per game.
North Alabama enters the matchup averaging 70.0 points per game, shooting 44 percent from the field and 31 percent from three-point range. The Lions have also made their presence felt defensively, ranking second in the ASUN in blocks per game.
With Senior Day setting the stage, the Wolves will look to extend their home winning streak and complete the season sweep of North Alabama. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. inside The Coliseum, and fans can catch all the action live on ESPN+.
