By Hunter Murdaugh
Jacksonville, FL – The University of West Georgia men’s and women’s basketball teams went into the ASUN Conference Championship Tournaments to prove they could compete at the Division 1 level. After making the jump from Division 2 before the 2024-25 athletic calendar, this was the first time both teams made an ASUN Conference tournament of any kind, and it was another steppingstone in their transition to the highest level of college athletics.
The 2026 men’s and women’s ASUN Basketball Tournaments, held in Jacksonville, Florida, brought together plenty of teams with more experience in the conference than UWG. For the Wolves’ teams though, it was an opportunity to not just extend their seasons, but an opportunity to measure their progress made over the last two seasons on a bigger stage.
A Defining Comeback for the Women
On Tuesday, March 3, the West Georgia women’s basketball team kicked off their tournament schedule with arguably one of the most memorable games of their 2025-26 season. They faced 10 seed University of North Florida in the first round, and UWG quickly found themselves in a back-and-forth matchup.
Throughout the game, the momentum shifted from one team to the other. The Ospreys were applying pressure on both ends of the floor the entire game, which in turn forced West Georgia to lean on everything they had practiced throughout the season under the direction of head coach Joanna Reitz. As the game went on, the Wolves refused to give up. They leaned into their defensive strengths and senior forward Jasime Jones hit a few clutch shots to keep UWG in punching distance.
Late in regulation, down 62-60, West Georgia made a crucial push to keep the game within reach, with Destiny Jones sinking two late free throws and sending the game into overtime. That extra period proved victorious for UWG. Gaining some energy after the short break between regulation and overtime the Wolves took control on both ends, went 8-for-8 from the free throw line, and eventually secured a 76-71 victory.
The come from behind win not only added an extra game to their season, but it also showcased the team’s ability to perform on the biggest stage.
The End of the Road
Moving on to the next round, on Thursday UWG had a significantly tougher matchup on their hands in two seed Jacksonville. Unlike the first round, the quarterfinal matchup required almost perfect execution to stay in the fight.
The Dolphins established game control early, relying on their top ranked offense and defense to limit West Georgia’s opportunities to take a lead. At halftime the score was 41-28 Jacksonville.
The Dolphins’ experience in postseason play was more than evident as they maintained composure from start to finish.
Despite the David versus Gloiath-esque battle the Wolves continued to fight. Even with 4 players in double figures and sparks of energy resembling that of Tuesday’s overtime victory, consistently maintaining that level of play proved difficult against one of the conference’s best.
As the game went on JU’s depth and experiences created separation on the scoreboard. West Georgia ultimately fell in the quarterfinals 86-77 in regulation, bringing their tournament run to a close.
While the loss seems like a setback fro some fans, for the team it serves as a benchmark for their future. Competing closely against a top seeded opponent in the ASUN revealed how far the Wolves have come in just two years.
Men’s Tournament Experience
The ASUN Conference Tournament presented its own set of challenges for the men’s team as well.
The men’s team started their tournament run on Wednesday, March 4, against lower seeded North Florida. Capitalizing on 60 percent shooting while also dominating the glass, UWG created a 20-point lead over UNF early in the second period. Despite some hiccups in the second, on the back of their captain Shelton Williams-Dryden, the Wolves came away with a 93-85 victory in Jacksonville, marking their first ever post season win at the Division 1 level.
That win advanced them to a quarterfinal matchup against three seeded Queens University, a team they had bested already in the regular season.
Queens jumped out to an early 10-0 lead, and they never looked back. Settling in on defense, West Georgia chipped away at the Royals’ double-digit lead after forcing QU to commit a handful of late turnovers, but at the half the Wolves trailed 33-25.
In the third period, the Royals laid the hammer down on UWG and eventually got out to a 20-point lead. Despite the daunting challenge, the Wolves continued to fight. Fueled by Josh Smith knocking in six quick points and Williams-Dryden adding four, UWG quickly strung together a 13-1 run to dash the QU advantage to 66-55 with less than four minutes remaining.
Getting as close as 6 points within the final two minutes, the experience of the Royals proved too much for the Wolves, as Queens came away with a 71-63 victory in regulation.
Despite the outcome, the experience gained by the team in tournament play is significant. For a program continuing to adjust to the ASUN and the highest level of basketball, facing postseason competition provides some insight into what it takes to compete at this level.
Seasons Defined by Growth
The ASUN Tournament summed up the West Georgia basketball journey this season. It had moments of promise, and it had tough times as the team adjusted.
There were moments like the women’s overtime win that showed what the team can do when asked to compete. There were also times that showed how big the gap is and how far the teams must go to get to where they want to be.
One theme was clear though: growth.
As West Georgia finds its place in the ASUN, the experiences in Jacksonville will help both teams in shaping their futures. The lessons learned, the strength shown, and the determination that was on display will only help them get closer to establishing themselves as feared competitors at the highest level of college athletics.
For now, the Wolves leave the tournament knowing what it takes to compete, and the belief they are heading in the right direction.