LIVINGSTON, Ala. — The Georgia Southwestern State University men's basketball team delivered its most complete performance of the young season Wednesday evening, powering past West Alabama, 80-63, inside Pruitt Hall to improve to 3-0. It's the Hurricanes' best start since the 2020-21 season, and they did it with balanced scoring, physical rebounding, and one of their most prolific road three-point efforts in years.

GSW knocked down 12 three-pointers - the program's most in a road game since Dec. 5, 2021 - and shot an even 50 percent from the field while holding UWA to 4-for-24 from beyond the arc.

Williams Stays Hot: Back-to-Back Double-Doubles

Deonte Williams has opened the season with statement after statement, and Wednesday's was his strongest yet. The senior forward posted 21 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, four blocks, and two steals, recording his second consecutive double-double and setting the tone on both ends of the floor.

Williams scored at the rim, knocked down two threes, and anchored a defensive effort that blocked nine West Alabama shots.

Freeman & Webster Put On a Shooting Clinic

GSW's perimeter attack overwhelmed West Alabama early and never cooled off:

• Markel Freeman: 18 points, 7-for-11 FG, two 3-pointers, three assists
• Matthew Webster: 17 points, 7-for-10 FG, three 3-pointers, eight rebounds

Freeman opened the second half with a 3-pointer that stretched the lead to 15, and Webster's interior finishing and timely shooting helped the Hurricanes control the glass and string together multiple defensive stops.

Hurricanes Control the Game Wire-to-Wire

After trailing 6-4 early, Georgia Southwestern surged ahead with a 15-4 run fueled by Webster's shooting, Freeman in transition, and Williams at the rim. GSW carried a 36-24 lead into halftime and pushed the margin to as many as 21 points in the second half.

Rafael Rubel added eight points off the bench, including two 3-pointers, while Keshawn Brown Jr. chipped in another pair of threes for six points.

GSW finished the night:

• 50.8% shooting (31-for-61)
• 50.0% from three (12-for-24)
• 40 rebounds, including 34 defensive boards
• 19 assists on 31 made field goals

Next Up

GSW returns to Americus for its home opener on Saturday at 4 p.m. against the University of Montevallo. Read Full Article