The West Georgia Wolves secured a 82-73 win over the North Alabama Lions, with Josh Smith leading the charge with 28 points on 10-17 shooting from the field. The Wolves, now 12-13 on the season, outscored the Lions 46-40 in the first half and maintained their lead throughout the second half, outscoring North Alabama 36-33. Donte Bacchus had a strong performance for the Lions, scoring 26 points and grabbing 9 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Wolves' balanced attack.
Josh Smith's 28 Points Lead West Georgia to 82-73 Win Over North Alabama
The West Georgia Wolves came out strong, scoring 46 points in the first half, including 12 points from Josh Smith. The North Alabama Lions kept pace, scoring 40 points in the first half, led by Donte Bacchus' 14 points. The Wolves maintained their lead in the second half, with Shelton Williams-Dryden scoring 11 of his 21 points in the final 20 minutes. The Lions cut the deficit to 5 points with 5:00 remaining, but the Wolves responded with a 7-2 run to seal the 82-73 victory. The Wolves shot 49% from the field, including 7-20 from three-point range, while the Lions shot 42% from the field and 6-22 from three-point range.
Josh Smith led the West Georgia Wolves with 28 points, while Shelton Williams-Dryden added 21 points and 10 rebounds. Malcolm Noel chipped in with 16 points and 6 assists for the Wolves. For the North Alabama Lions, Donte Bacchus had a strong performance with 26 points and 9 rebounds, while Kevin de Kovachich scored 20 points. Cortez Graham-Howard added 9 points for the Lions, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Wolves' balanced attack. The Wolves' top three scorers combined for 65 points, while the Lions' top three scorers combined for 55 points.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
The West Georgia Wolves outrebounded the North Alabama Lions 38-32, including 12 offensive rebounds. The Wolves also had a significant advantage in assists, with 17 assists to the Lions' 10. The Lions struggled with turnovers, committing 15 turnovers to the Wolves' 12. The Wolves shot 49% from the field, including 35% from three-point range in the second half. The Lions shot 42% from the field, including 30% from three-point range in the second half. The Wolves' 82 points were their highest total in the last 5 games.
The CHD Scout predicted a West Georgia victory by 7 points, and the Wolves delivered with a 9-point win. The predicted score was 72-79, but the Wolves exceeded expectations with 82 points. The Lions, on the other hand, fell short of their predicted score of 72 points. The CHD Scout was correct in predicting a West Georgia victory, and the Wolves' performance was in line with expectations. The Wolves' 12-13 record and NET ranking of 310 suggest that they are a solid mid-major team, and this win should help them in their quest for a strong postseason resume.
This win was a Quadrant 4 victory for the West Georgia Wolves, and a Quadrant 4 loss for the North Alabama Lions. The Wolves' NET ranking of 310 should remain relatively stable, while the Lions' NET ranking of 340 may drop slightly. The Wolves' record improves to 12-13, while the Lions fall to 7-17. The Wolves' resume now includes 2 Quadrant 4 wins, and they want to build on this momentum in their next game. The Lions, on the other hand, want to regroup and try to snap their 3-game losing streak.
The West Georgia Wolves will face the Auburn Tigers on February 15, while the North Alabama Lions will face the UAB Blazers on February 18. The Wolves want to build on their momentum and secure another strong win, while the Lions will try to bounce back from their loss and get back on track.