COLUMBUS, Miss. – After suffering back-to-back losses to open the 2021 season and an extended break due to COVID-19 protocol, The W men's basketball team returns to action on Wednesday night at Emma 'Ody' Pohl Gymnasium. The Owls will take on Talladega College, an NAIA opponent, at 6 p.m.

The W first losses of the season came at home to fellow USCAA-institution Campbellsville University – Somerset. In the first match-up, the Owls inexperience showed on the court, and the team struggled to keep up with the fast pace of the Tigers offense to fall 90-76. In the second game, The W performed much better on the ball's defensive side but had difficulty creating openings for offensive play for a 73-61 defeat.

The W must move past those competitions and focus on the Tornadoes, who closed the 2019-20 season ranked in the top-25 of the NAIA and is number one in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. Talladega is currently 20-2 on the season with recent victories over Xavier University and Dillard University. Players to watch for the Tornadoes are Darryl Baker and Tony Hutson. Baker averages 16.3 points per game and 4.5 rebounds, while Hutson averages 15.8 points per game and 5.0 rebounds.

Senior guard Brien Kimmons leads the Owls offense with 12.5 points per game. The Olive Branch, Miss. native, shoots 33.3 percent from the field and 76.9 percent from the free-throw line. He also adds 2.5 rebounds per game over 21.5 minutes.

As a team, the Owls averages 68.5 points per game, shooting 35.2 from the field and 58.6 percent at the free-throw line. The team also averages 43.0 rebounds per game and 13.0 steals.

There will be no fans in attendance for Wednesday's game. The game's live stats and live stream will be accessible at OwlsAthletics.com.

For the latest on Owls men's basketball and the rest of Owls Athletics, visit OwlsAthletics.com and follow us on social media at The W.