Box Score By Jim O'Hara

ROME, Ga. – For most of the game, the Shorter Hawks kept visiting West Georgia in check – until the final minute.

In the first Gulf South Conference game of the season for the two teams, the Hawks were handed an 82-81 defeat when Deonta Stocks hit a running jumper in in the lane with 10 seconds to play to give the Wolves the victory.

The setback gives Shorter a 3-4 overall record heading into two more GSC tests the Hawks have before the Christmas break when they host Union next Wednesday and North Alabama on Friday.

The two teams opened the game swapping baskets until the Hawks took control at the midway point of the first half.

After Jordan Jacks gave Shorter a 10-point lead, 32-22, when he converted a traditional three-point play with 8:15 to go until halftime, the Hawks stayed in control and made it a 13-point game when Travis Jones scored, was fouled and hit the free throw to give Shorter its biggest lead of the first 20 minutes, 37-24.

The Wolves, however, battled back and with 1:25 remaining until the break West Georgia knotted the game back up, 39-39, when Stocks came up with a steal and a layup, but 20 seconds later Pullman put the Hawks back out front scoring in the lane, was fouled and nailed the foul shot and as the buzzer sounded to end the first half Steve Johnson found the mark by hitting an off-balanced three-pointer from the corner that gave the Hawks a 48-41 advantage.

When the final 20 minutes began, Shorter continued to fight off repeated runs by the Wolves and with 15:26 to go Woods gave the Hawks another double-figure, 59-48, lead when he converted a three-point play but West Georgia refused to back down.

Taking the ball inside against the Hawks, the Wolves charged back to tie the game 70-70 with 7:53 when Lavon Gray scored off a missed shot and seconds later Sean Boston came up with a dunk to give West Georgia its first lead since the opening minutes of the game, 72-70.

The Hawks managed to regain the lead with just over four minutes to play, 77-76, when Kurtis Woods hit a three-pointer and maintained a slim 81-80 lead and possession of the ball heading into the final minute.

But after patiently taking time off the clock, Shorter was unable to get off a shot and turned the ball over on a shot-clock violation with 24 seconds to go and from there Stocks drove the length of the court to hit the game-winner for the Wolves, now 8-1 overall.

Shorter had one last chance to win the game in the final seconds, but Dedric Ware's shot was off the mark.

The Hawks ended the game with four players in doubles figures and two turning in a pair of double-double performances – Jacks had 23 points and 13 rebounds while Brandon Pullman had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Woods led Shorter with 24 points and Travis Jones added 10.

West Georgia – the Wolves' bench outscored Shorter's 17-4 – was led by Stephan Thompson's game-high 26 points, Stocks finished with 20 and Lavonn Gray had 16 points and 10 rebounds.