MEMPHIS-The Christian Brothers University Bucs rallied from a big first-half deficit to tie visiting West Georgia in the second half, but the Wolves pulled away to a 67-61 win over CBU Thursday night at Canale Arena.

The Wolves (8-1, 3-1 GSC) jumped to an 8-1 lead in the first two minutes and never trailed, building a 23-10 lead on a Jovany Austin layup with 10:27 remaining in the first half. The Bucs (5-3, 3-2) used a 14-3 run late in the half to pull within 31-30 on a Trey Casey (Cincinnati, Ohio/La Salle HS) layup with 41 seconds remaining in the first half.

After UWG stretched its lead back to six points early in the second half on a Marcus Dortch jumper with 19:10 remaining, giving UWG a 38-32 lead. The Bucs battled back to a tie as a pair of Casey jumpers sandwiched two Sidy Sall (Dakar, Senegal/Seeds Academy) free throws to form a 6-0 burst and knot the game at 38 with 15:40 remaining. After the teams traded baskets, the Wolves used an 8-0 run capped by an Alex Abreu layup to seize the lead for good, taking a 48-40 edge with 11:54 remaining.

The Bucs closed within 61-59 on a three-point play by Casey with 1:52 remaining. CBU forced a stop on the other end, but their shot to tie missed and Abreu sank two free throws to give UWG a four-point lead again. Sal scored a layup to cut the margin back to 63-61 with 43.6 seconds remaining, but UWG made four of six free throws and the Bucs couldn't score again in the final minute.

Sall led the Bucs with 18 points, 14 rebounds and four assists. Casey scored 18 with seven rebounds, three steals and three assists, while Ryan Fleming (Cincinnati, Ohio/La Salle HS) and Drew Hildreth (Memphis, Tenn./Bolton HS) scored eight each.

Austin and Dortch led the Wolves with 19 points each, and Deonta Stocks added 13.

The Wolves shot 48.1 percent (25-of-52) while holding the Bucs to a season-low 37.5 percent (24-of-64). The Bucs out-rebounded UWG 37-31, including a 15-6 edge in offensive boards, while each team committed 12 turnovers.

The Bucs return to action Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. as they host West Alabama.