JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Dolphins are back in the win column with a dominating 75-43 win over West Georgia.

Coming into Saturday afternoon's contest, the Wolves were 3-0 in conference play and averaging a hair under 87 points per game in conference. After visiting Swisher Gymnasium, the Wolves shot just 35.9%, made only one 3-pointer and scored their fewest points of the entire season.

West Georgia's 43 points were the fewest points scored by the program since joining the Division 1 ranks last year. The win also improves JU's overall record against the Wolves to 2-0.

Offensively, Chris Lockett Jr. led the charge by tying his career high in scoring with 18 points on 6-7 shooting. Lockett led the team in field goal makes while also knocking down both his attempts from deep.

Jacksonville started the game hot, seeing Jason Thirdkill Jr. nail his first triple attempt to go up 3-2. The next possession Hayden Wood hit a triple, followed by a jumper from Donovan Rivers then another make from range from Jaylen Jones.

Less than three minutes into the game, JU led 11-2 and was 3-3 from deep. The team never relinquished the lead and ended the game 9-15 from beyond the arc. Prior to Saturday, UWG had the league's third best 3-point defense, allowing squads to hit 32.6% of their 3-pointers.

After hitting just four triples against Queens, JU shot 60% from range on the Wolves.

At the halftime stoppage, JU had a dominating 40-23 lead. West Georgia's 23 points scored was its lowest first half production of the season. UWG was averaging 43.7 first half points after three conference games played.

By the 15-minute mark of the second half, Jacksonville ballooned its lead to 20 points. A Lockett jumper with 7:52 to play put JU up 26 points. Free throws by Donovan Rivers with under five minutes to play got Jacksonville up 31 points. A Lamont Jackson jumper gave the 'Phins their final score.

Joining Lockett in scoring was Wood with 13 points, Thirdkill with 13 points and Rivers with 10. Down low, Jaylen Jordon, appearing in his second straight game, snagged six boards to lead the team. Thirdkill pulled down four, part of a 24-rebound effort by the Dolphins.

Jordon appearing in his second ASUN game was a welcome sight for the 'Phins but he wasn't alone. Allen Udemadu appeared in his first ASUN game Saturday, playing eight minutes and grabbing two boards. Michael Harper Jr. played 2:45 and Jackson played a minute in his second straight conference appearance. 

Overall, Jacksonville flipped the script from its first ASUN home game to its second on Saturday. Against Queens, JU had just five assists and 13 turnovers. Against the Wolves, JU tallied 12 assists – led by six from Evan Sterck – and turned the ball over just five times.

Jacksonville's turnover number was its lowest in a game all season.

This season, UWG has been led by Preseason All-ASUN honoree Shelton Williams-Dryden. Williams-Dryden had gone three straight conference games notching a double-double. Against the Dolphins, the senior forward made just a single basket from the field and finished with eight points and four rebounds. It was just his second single-digit scoring game of the season and tied his lowest rebounding total on the year.

Saturday's win snaps a six-game losing streak and an 0-3 start to conference play. The victory also moves JU to 4-1 this season in games at home. The University of North Florida is now the only ASUN school without a conference win this season. Jacksonville, North Alabama and Bellarmine are all tied with a single conference win.
The 'Phins won't get the luxury of playing at home next week however as Jacksonville makes its longest conference trek of the year, traveling to Central Arkansas and North Alabama.

JU squares off with the Bears (2-1 in ASUN play) on Thursday, Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m. EST and at North Alabama (1-2 in ASUN Play) at 3 p.m. EST on Saturday, Jan. 17.
Both games will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and will be broadcast via radio on 1010XL.

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