CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College men's basketball team continues their season-long homestand on Monday night when they host West Georgia in A.E. Wood Coliseum. Tip-off for the Gulf South Conference contest is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION
Matchup: West Georgia (7-5, 4-2 GSC) at Mississippi College (3-7, 0-6 GSC)
Location: Clinton, Miss.  |  A.E. Wood Coliseum
Time: 7:30 p.m.
 

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MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE INFORMATION
Head Coach: Don Lofton  |  200-127 (.612), 13th Year at MC

SEASON STATS

Leading Scorer: Xavion Dillon (6'7, 220, So.) - 14.3 ppg
Leading Rebounder: Xavion Dillon (6'7, 220, So.) - 8.3 rpg
Leading Assists: DeOndre Haynes (6'3, 180, Sr.) - 4.3 apg

LAST GAME: The Choctaws led for nearly 27 minutes, but West Alabama used a second-half rally to get the 61-54 come-from-behind victory in Clinton Saturday night. Junior Antonio Johnson led MC with 15 points, while freshman Brandon Boston had a career-high 10 rebounds for MC. The Choctaws, however, shot just 35% from the field in the loss.
 

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WEST GEORGIA INFORMATION
Head Coach: Michael Cooney  |  151-121 (.555), 10th Year at UWG

SEASON STATS

Leading Scorer: Steph Branch (6'3, 185, Sr.) - 20.3 ppg
Leading Rebounder: Shannon Fowler (6'8, 225, Sr.) - 8.9 rpg
Leading Assists: Ivan Saicic (6'6, 215, Jr.) - 2.3 apg

LAST GAME: The Wolves got off to a slow start, falling behind 41-20 at halftime, and could not recover as they dropped a road conference contest to Delta State, 73-60. Shannon Fowler and Ivan Saicic each had a team-high 15 points, while Fowler had a double-double with 10 rebounds. UWG shot just 5-of-22 (23%) from the three-point line and had 20 turnovers in the loss.
 

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GAME NOTES
- This will be the 24th all-time meeting between the two schools with MC holding a 15-8 edge in the series. The Choctaws won 14 straight from 1987-93, but the Wolves have won five straight, including four in-a-row since MC re-joined the league in 2014-15. Last season, both games were decided by three points and each of the last three have been decided by three points or less.
- The Choctaws are led by 13th-year head coach Don Lofton, who earned his 200th career victory on December 3rd in an 83-65 win over Selma.
- Last time out, the Choctaws led for nearly 27 minutes, but West Alabama used a second-half rally to grab the 61-54 win on Saturday night in Clinton. Junior Antonio Johnson led the Choctaws with 15 points, while freshman Brandon Boston pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds. MC was held to just 35% shooting in the contest.
- Sophomore Xavion Dillon (14.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg) is the team's leading scorer and rebounder this season, joining the team after the Christmas break after transferring from Southeast Missouri State. Dillon is already tied for the team lead with seven blocked shots.
- Johnson (14.0 ppg) ranks 3rd in the GSC in three-point field goals made per game (3.0) and is 5th in three-point percentage (.429). Senior DeOndre Haynes (12.2 ppg) leads the team and ranks 9th in the league in assists per game (4.2).
- Junior Stacey Mack (10.0 ppg) recorded his 500th career point in Saturday's loss to West Alabama. The former McComb HS standout has scored at least 100 points in each of his first three seasons.
- The Wolves are led by 10th-year head coach Michael Cooney, who has over 150 wins at the helm. UWG opened the GSC scheduled with four straight wins but have lost their last two to Shorter (104-100) and Delta State (73-60).
- The Wolves rank 3rd in the league in scoring offense (82.4 ppg) and in field goal percentage defense (.408). They are also 2nd in blocked shots (4.7) and 4th in assists (14.8).
- Steph Branch (20.3 ppg) is the team's leading scorer, while Shannon Fowler (13.6 ppg) is also averaging in double-figures and leads the team in rebounding (8.9 rpg). Branch and Fowler are the only two Wolves to start all 12 games on the season.
 

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Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC is recently finished their transition process back to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference and will be competing for conference and national championships in the 2016-17 academic year.
 
The athletic department sponsors 17 intercollegiate athletic programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Football, Golf, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field, Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field and Volleyball.
 
For more information on Mississippi College athletics, please contact David Nichols at 601-925-3234 or nichols@mc.edu.