>>>boxscore
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - Powered by 14 points off the bench
from junior guard Jake Rios (Bozeman,
Mt.), and the first double-double of sophomore forward
Josh
Hurst's (Athens, Ga.) career, the Georgia College
& State University men's basketball team (2-0) dropped
Carson-Newman College (2-3) 89-83 in day one of the Jameson Inn
Classic, hosted by Tusculum College.
The Bobcats shot better than 50 percent from the floor (36-70)
and hit 59 percent in the second half (16-27). GCSU took over the
lead for the first time at 2-1 with 18:32 left in the first half on
a Hurst fast break lay-up, and never surrendered the advantage.
The Bobcats had five scorers in double-figures, led by Rios' 14
and Hurst's 12-point, 10-rebound effort. Senior guard Shaun Keaton
(Albany, Ga.) made up for an 0-for-3 night from behind the
arc with a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line and 12 points.
Classmate Justin Brown (New
Orleans) also had 12 off the bench, while junior guard
Graham Martin
(Marietta, Ga.) added 11.
The Bobcats busted open a tight game in the first half, going on
a 14-2 run beginning at the 14:33 mark, capped by a Hurst offensive
put-back and a 27-14 score at 9:02 left. Georgia College would
stretch the lead to its fullest right before the halftime buzzer,
when sophomore Andre Mikell
(Snellville, Ga.) dropped a jumper for a 49-34 halftime
edge.
The Eagles cut it to a two-point lead at 55-53 with 14:36 left
in the second stanza, thanks to a Jordan Dixon three-pointer, but
could get no closer. The Bobcats responded immediately with a 12-2
run that put the game out of reach again.
Georgia College distributed the ball well with 24 team assists,
led by junior point guard Ty Rowland
(Lilburn, Ga.) at six.
CNC guard Dixon was held to just 2-for-11 from the floor, but
hit 11 of his 12 free-throw tries and finished with a game-high 17
points and eight assists. He was aided by 13 points apiece from
Joey Cameron and Darron Maxtion.
The Bobcat win marks the first in program history over the
Eagles, evening out the all-time series at 1-1. The Bobcats also
start the season off 2-0 for the third straight year.
Georgia College wraps up the tournament tomorrow, Nov. 29
against the host Pioneers at 4 p.m. Tusculum (3-1) beat the
University of West Alabama 58-57 earlier tonight.
Live audio will be provided as always through the home team
stations, Country 102FM and 1450AM or on the web at www.country102fm.com. Tusculum
will also have live web video available on their site at www.TusculumPioneers.com.
The GCSU Department of Athletics sponsors 10 varsity athletic
programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program,
GCSU prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete,
evidenced by the Bobcats' multiple appearances in post-season
competition as well as documented academic success and
community-service involvement. Follow the Bobcats and their
positive impact on the Milledgeville community at
www.gcsu.edu/bobcats.
