Middle Georgia State set for first NAIA tournament, boosted by Central Georgians

Central Georgia’s only HQ to coverage of Central Georgia’s colleges

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          In what may be its final year in the NAIA, Middle Georgia State’s men are in their first NAIA basketball tournament.

          The ninth-seeded Knights take on eighth-seeded Nelson at 6:30 p.m. Friday at LSU-Alexandria, home of the top seed.

          Former Putnam County standout Jamal Taylor leads the Knights, as well as the Central Georgia contingent: forward Milique Smith of Upson-Lee, guard William Jordan of Dodge County, guard Andrew Prestwood of John Milledge.

          Smith tops the Knights with 14 points  and 10.1 rebounds a game, Taylor next at 9.5 points and a team-best 3.5 assists and 2 steals. Prestwood adds 6.4  points and 2.5 assists.

          Scott Moe is in his 23rd season with the school, dating back to its junior-college days.

          The Knights – one of five first-time teams in the tournament - are 19-8, having won 10 of their last 13 games and breaking a streak of four straight (excluding 2020-21 COVID season) losing years. This is their best record since 19-12 in 2018-19.

          They earned an at-large spot after reaching the SSAC tournament final, losing 85-78 to Life.

          Nelson, located in Waxahachie, Texas, just south of Dallas, is 23-8, and are 10-10 in the NAIA tournament. It is the Sooner Athletic Conference regular-season champ. It boasts the SAC player of the year with senior guard C.J. Hall, five Lions earning some level of all-conference honor.

          The winner faces the winner of LSU-Alexandria, the host, and Stillman, on Saturday.