Michael Cooney will get his first live look at Gulf South Conference newcomer Union University today, and it’s a 5 p.m. road game the University of West Georgia men’s basketball coach desperately wants to win.

The Wolves (7-9, 4-4 GSC) make the jaunt to Jackson, Tenn., on the heels of a tough, 80-75 overtime loss to North Alabama on Thursday night, marking their third straight setback after a 4-1 start in conference action. And with dates against two teams tied for first place in the league looming next week — Alabama-Huntsville and Shorter — UWG needs a ‘W’ today to stay in the hunt for one of the top spots in the GSC race.

Union (3-13, 1-7) is currently making the transition from an NAIA program — where it enjoyed great success in recent years — to the Division II level and GSC, as it officially becomes a member next season. And while the Bulldogs are not eligible for postseason play this year, just like fellow GSC newcomer Shorter, games against the Bulldogs and Hawks do count in the league standings.

The Bulldogs dropped a 71-41 decision at West Alabama on Thursday night, getting 14 points and five rebounds from junior guard A.J. Roberts, while freshman guard Roy Bullock III added 13 points.

Union, which is looking to snap a five-game skid today, is led by senior forward Anthony Freeman, Jr. (14.1 ppg), with Corieon Pearson (12.1 ppg), Bullock (11.4 ppg) and Roberts (11.4 ppg) also posting double figures. Union’s other starter, Dani Marti (9.3 ppg, 9.4 rpg), averages nearly a double-double, but beyond the starting five, the Bulldogs don’t get much help elsewhere.

The Wolves received a huge lift from freshman guard Deontre Brown in Thursday night’s contest, scoring a career-high 24 points in the overtime setback, including 15 in the second half and extra period.

UWG women: The Wolves (11-5, 5-3) face their second major test in a three-day stretch today at 3 p.m. in the Lady Bulldogs (11-5, 6-2), who currently sit atop the league standings by their lonesome following Thursday night’s win at West Alabama and losses by Delta State and North Alabama.

Of course, it was UWG that knocked North Alabama off its pedestal in Thursday’s 69-55 win at The Coliseum, where the Wolves out-rebounded the Lions by a 49-31 margin and a 14-4 differential on the offensive end. West Georgia now sits in a five-way tie for second place in the standings with North Alabama, Delta State, Shorter and Alabama-Huntsville, who are all one game behind Union.

The Lady Bulldogs enter today’s contest winners of four of their past five games, with the lone loss being a 64-63 setback to Shorter last Saturday, where former Carrollton High School standout Karisma Boykin sunk a shot at the buzzer for the game-winner.

Sophomore guards Amy Philamlee and Amber Rechis lead the Lady Bulldogs offensively at 14.3 and 12.8 points per game, respectively.

West Georgia has gotten solid contributions from a host of different players in recent weeks, with senior guard Mone’ Peoples dropping in a game-high 17 points on Thursday night, while Villa Rica product JaDechia Hill pulled down 14 rebounds to go along with eight points.