NAIA Georgia Gwinnett basketball takes down D1 Alabama State

Add Us On GoogleAdd as a preferred source on Google

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Marc Chavenet scored 14 points to help NAIA Georgia Gwinnett upset Division I Alabama State 79-77 on Monday, giving the second-year men’s basketball program a win that will stand out in its young history.

Chavenet shot 5 of 7 from the field, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range, for the Grizzlies. Brasen James added 13 points, shooting 4 of 5 overall and 3 of 4 from beyond the arc. Ray Rolley scored 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting.

Paul McMillan IV led Alabama State (0-2) with 24 points, four assists and two steals. Tre Powell added 23 points, and Terrance Hampton finished with 13 points and nine rebounds.

NAIA over D1!! Georgia Gwinnett College (NAIA) holds on after 2 misses in the final seconds 79-77 to beat Alabama State (D1) in Montgomery!

GGC only started their Basketball program LAST YEAR (2025-26) 😱 pic.twitter.com/fbyooJVFpu
— NCAA Buzzer Beaters & Game Winners (@NCAABuzzerBters) November 10, 2026

Georgia Gwinnett, located in Lawrenceville, announced in April 2024 that it would add men’s and women’s basketball. The men’s team played its first game on Oct. 23, 2025, beating Spartanburg Methodist 106-70.

The Grizzlies finished their inaugural season 25-7, climbed as high as No. 23 in the NAIA national rankings and earned a trip to the NAIA national tournament.