West Georgia Edges Bellarmine in Thrilling Finish
Thursday, January 1, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · The Coliseum
West Georgia Wolves 87, Bellarmine Knights 85, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Bellarmine Knights vs West Georgia Wolves?
West Georgia Wolves beat Bellarmine Knights 87-85 at The Coliseum on January 1, 2026.
Who was favored in Bellarmine Knights vs West Georgia Wolves?
Bellarmine Knights were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -125 (about 56% implied). The underdog won.
In a closely contested matchup, the West Georgia Wolves triumphed over the Bellarmine Knights with a final score of 87-85. This victory marked a significant moment for the Wolves, who improved their home record to 8-6 while the Knights fell to 5-9 overall. The game took place at The Coliseum, where the atmosphere was electric as both teams battled fiercely for supremacy.
West Georgia entered the game with a home record of 7-6 and a recent form of 5-5 over their last ten games, though they were on a one-game losing streak. Their scoring average stood at 74.2 points per game, while they allowed an average of 79.9 points. In contrast, Bellarmine had a record of 5-8 and had gone 4-5-1 in their last ten games, also on a one-game losing streak. The Knights averaged 71.6 points scored while allowing 69.1 points.
The Wolves' recent performance included a mix of highs and lows, with notable games such as a 74-103 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs and a 70-49 victory over the Brewton Parker Wildcats. Meanwhile, Bellarmine's recent results included a 79-64 win against the Chattanooga Mocs and a close 85-99 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats.
When considering their home and away performances, West Georgia had a home record of 3-2 in their last five games, while Bellarmine struggled with a 1-3 record in their away games during the same span. This home advantage was crucial in the tightly contested match.
Historically, the Wolves had the edge in their previous meeting against the Knights, winning 81-76 on February 15, 2025. This prior success likely contributed to their confidence heading into this matchup.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any players missing from either team, suggesting that both squads were at full strength for this important clash.
The betting market, as reported by DraftKings, had Bellarmine favored by 1.5 points, with a total set at 151.5. The odds indicated a competitive matchup, reflecting the parity between the two teams.
Conditions during the game were not detailed in the block, but the excitement of the close scoreline suggests a thrilling atmosphere that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
As the game unfolded, key moments included a series of free throws that kept the score tight in the final minutes. Brian Waddell and Shelton Williams-Dryden both contributed from the line, while Kenyon Goodin's turnaround jump shot brought the Knights within striking distance. However, it was Josh Smith's 14-foot step-back jump shot that ultimately sealed the victory for the Wolves.
With this win, West Georgia not only secured a vital home victory but also showcased their resilience and ability to perform under pressure, setting the stage for their upcoming games.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | BELL -1.5 | 151.5 o -105 / u -115 | Bellarmine Knights -125 · West Georgia Wolves +105 |
Leaders
- PointsShelton Williams-Dryden28West Georgia Wolves
- AssistsJosh Smith5West Georgia Wolves
- ReboundsShelton Williams-Dryden14West Georgia Wolves
- PointsJack Karasinski21Bellarmine Knights
- AssistsSam Donald4Bellarmine Knights
- ReboundsJack Karasinski8Bellarmine Knights
Recent form
West Georgia Wolves
Last 10: 5-5Streak L174.2 scored · 79.9 allowed per game3-2 at home
- L74-103at Georgia BulldogsDec 22
- W70-49vs Brewton Parker WildcatsDec 18
- L85-91vs Georgia Southern EaglesDec 14
- L59-87vs Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesDec 6
- W93-89at Troy TrojansDec 2
- L66-82at Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsNov 23
- W72-64vs South Carolina Upstate SpartansNov 22
- W61-59at Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesNov 18
- W100-92vs The Citadel BulldogsNov 15
- L62-83at UCLA BruinsNov 11
Bellarmine Knights
Last 10: 4-5-1Streak L171.6 scored · 69.1 allowed per game1-3 away
- L85-99at Kentucky WildcatsDec 23
- W79-64vs Chattanooga MocsDec 18
- L76-80vs Northern Kentucky NorseDec 13
- L68-81at Murray State RacersDec 6
- W99-60vs Midway EaglesDec 4
- D0-0at Northern Illinois HuskiesNov 29
- W74-69vs Houston Christian HuskiesNov 26
- W70-58at The Citadel BulldogsNov 25
- L79-86at Notre Dame Fighting IrishNov 20
- L86-94vs Wofford TerriersNov 15
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Peay | 22-9 | +1 | 15-3 |
| Central Arkansas | 22-12 | +1 | 15-3 |
| Queens University | 21-14 | 2 | 13-5 |
| Lipscomb | 19-13 | 3 | 12-6 |
| Florida Gulf Coast | 16-18 | 7 | 8-10 |
| West Georgia | 15-17 | 6 | 8-10 |
| Bellarmine | 13-19 | 8 | 7-11 |
| Jacksonville | 12-20 | 8 | 7-11 |
| Stetson | 12-21 | 8 | 7-11 |
| Eastern Kentucky | 11-21 | 7 | 7-11 |
| North Florida | 7-25 | 10 | 5-13 |
| North Alabama | 9-21 | 10 | 4-14 |
| Utah Valley | 25-9 | - | 14-4 |
| California Baptist | 25-9 | 1 | 13-5 |
| Utah Tech | 19-15 | 2 | 11-7 |
| UT Arlington | 18-14 | 5 | 9-9 |
| Southern Utah | 10-22 | 7 | 6-12 |
| Tarleton State | 14-18 | 9 | 5-13 |
| Abilene Christian | 14-19 | 9 | 5-13 |
Box score
| Stat | Bellarmine Knights | West Georgia Wolves |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 29-50 | 29-72 |
| Field goal % | 58 | 40 |
| Three-pointers | 4-13 | 12-39 |
| Three-point % | 31 | 31 |
| Free throws | 23-34 | 17-21 |
| Free throw % | 68 | 81 |
| Rebounds | 33 | 38 |
| Offensive rebounds | 5 | 18 |
| Defensive rebounds | 28 | 20 |
| Assists | 13 | 19 |
| Steals | 3 | 4 |
| Blocks | 1 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 7 | 5 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 1 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 7 | 10 |
| Fast-break points | 15 | 8 |
| Points in the paint | 50 | 30 |
| Fouls | 18 | 22 |
| Largest lead | 0 | 16 |
| Lead changes | 0 | 0 |
| Time in front | 0 | 97 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half41-57Shelton Williams-Dryden makes layup
- 2nd Half43-57Sam Donald makes layup (Darrius Bolden assists)
- 2nd Half45-57Brian Waddell makes driving layup
- 2nd Half45-59Shelton Williams-Dryden makes 7-foot floating jump shot (Brady Hardewig assists)
- 2nd Half48-59Sam Donald makes 24-foot three point jumper (Tyler Doyle assists)
- 2nd Half50-59Tyler Doyle makes driving layup
- 2nd Half50-62Brady Hardewig makes 26-foot three point jumper (JaVar Daniel assists)
- 2nd Half52-62Kenyon Goodin makes driving layup
- 2nd Half52-63Shelton Williams-Dryden makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-66Brady Hardewig makes 24-foot three point jumper (JaVar Daniel assists)
- 2nd Half55-66Kenyon Goodin makes 23-foot three point jumper (Michael Wilson Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half55-68Josh Smith makes 11-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half58-68Kenyon Goodin makes 24-foot three point jumper (Tyler Doyle assists)
- 2nd Half58-71Brady Hardewig makes 23-foot three point jumper (Josh Smith assists)
- 2nd Half60-71Jack Karasinski makes layup (Tyler Doyle assists)
- 2nd Half61-71Jack Karasinski makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-74Brady Hardewig makes 25-foot three point jumper (Josh Smith assists)
- 2nd Half63-74Donovan Hunter makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half65-74Brian Waddell makes driving layup
- 2nd Half65-76Kenneth Chime makes layup (Brady Hardewig assists)
- 2nd Half67-76Brian Waddell makes layup (Sam Donald assists)
- 2nd Half69-76Myles Watkins makes driving layup
- 2nd Half71-76Jack Karasinski makes driving layup
- 2nd Half71-77Shelton Williams-Dryden makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-78Shelton Williams-Dryden makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-78Kenyon Goodin makes layup (Tyler Doyle assists)
- 2nd Half75-78Brian Waddell makes 2-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half75-80Shelton Williams-Dryden makes 9-foot floating jump shot (Kolten Griffin assists)
- 2nd Half77-80Tyler Doyle makes layup
- 2nd Half77-83Malcolm Noel makes 25-foot three point jumper (Kolten Griffin assists)
- 2nd Half78-83Brian Waddell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half79-83Brian Waddell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half80-83Brian Waddell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half81-83Brian Waddell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half81-84Shelton Williams-Dryden makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half81-85Shelton Williams-Dryden makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half83-85Kenyon Goodin makes 5-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half84-85Jack Karasinski makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half85-85Jack Karasinski makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half85-87Josh Smith makes 14-foot step back jumpshot
Win probability
Above the line favours West Georgia Wolves, below favours Bellarmine Knights.
Venue
- The ColiseumCarrollton, GA
- Attendance507
- OfficialsSidney Cohen, Hunter Allen, Landen Cammack
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