Wallace State Seeks Winning Mark Against Winless Gordon State

GORDON, Ga. (Interstat) — The Wallace State Lions and Gordon State Highlanders will meet for the second time this season in a men’s junior college basketball game Saturday, with the visiting Lions looking to climb above .500 and the home Highlanders desperate for their first win.

The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 3, 2026.

Wallace State (5-5) enters at an even mark after a dominant 110-84 victory over Pellissippi State on Dec. 19. Gordon State (0-8) is still searching for its inaugural victory following a 78-59 loss at Florida Southwestern State on Dec. 16.

The Lions won the first meeting this season in overtime, 95-86, at home on Dec. 2. Gordon State has lost seven straight since that narrow defeat.

A key player for Wallace State is forward Tyson Barrett, who is coming off a strong double-double performance with 17 points and 12 rebounds in the win over Pellissippi State. In the last meeting against Gordon State, Barrett played 21 minutes with 13 points and 7 rebounds. He will be supported by guards Jaeden Rush and Viczavious Madden, who each scored 21 points in the Lions’ most recent game.

Gordon State’s struggles have been consistent, with their closest call being the overtime loss to Wallace State and a one-point overtime defeat to Denmark Tech to open the season. They have not scored more than 86 points in a game this year.

Despite the records, Interstat’s game simulator projects a high-scoring 100-100 draw, suggesting a potentially tight contest.

For Wallace State, this begins a stretch of three road games in their next four. Gordon State opens a three-game homestand after this contest, facing Georgia Highlands on Jan. 7.

The Lions will aim to control the interior with Barrett and build momentum before a rematch with East Mississippi on Jan. 6. The Highlanders, meanwhile, see this as a prime opportunity to break their skid against a familiar opponent they took to overtime just over a month ago.