>>>FULL NOTES

THE GAME
The Georgia College men's basketball team gets the regular season underway this weekend at the Lander Classic, taking on Queens University Friday, Nov. 14 at 5:30 p.m., and Emmanuel College Saturday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. Catch the broadcast on the HomeTeam Country102FM and SportsRadio 1450AM; GC Hall of Fame Broadcaster Scott MacLeod will bring you the call.

SERIES HISTORY
The Bobcats and Royals have split their two meetings in men's basketball, Queens grabbing the most recent contest 71-58 during the 1992-93 season. Georgia College and Emmanuel have never met on the hardwood, the lone first-time opponent on the 2014-15 schedule for the Bobcats.

LAST TIME OUT FOR GC
Led by a double-double from Larrentis Thomas and double-digit scoring from two others, the Georgia College men's basketball team took on Division I University of Central Florida Tuesday in exhibition action, falling 82-65.

Thomas ripped down 12 rebounds to go with a team-high 18 points, hitting 8-of-13 from the floor. Junior Ryan Blumenthal knocked down three from long range, finishing with 16 points off the pine, and classmate Terrell Harris scored 13 points with five rebounds, three assists and three steals.

The Bobcats were out-sized at every position, resulting in a 52-38 rebounding advantage for the Knights. Georgia College matched the quickness of UCF, turning the Knights over 15 times while coughing it up just 12 times on the offensive end.

Sophomore center Justin McBride was a difference-maker for UCF at 6-foot-10 and 325 lbs., controlling the middle to the tune of 19 points and 13 rebounds. The big man made space for the outside as well, as UCF hit 13-of-27 from the perimeter. B.J. Taylor led all scorers with 22 points, including five threes, while Brandon Goodwin and Adonys Henriquez added 12 and 11 points, respectively.  

Despite being undersized, the Bobcats won points in the paint 44-36, and took control in transition with a 12-2 lead in fast-break points. The difference-maker for the Knights was a 25-12 advantage in second-chance points.

LAST SEASON FOR THE 'CATS
Georgia College went 10-16 last season, including a 6-13 record in conference play. The season marked just the second time since joining the Peach Belt Conference in 1990-91 the Bobcats have posted back-to-back losing seasons.

The Bobcats return just five players from last year's team, but do have three double-digit scorers returning as well as the team's leading rebounder from a year ago. Terrell Harris netted 452 points last season, placing him ninth in single-season history at Georgia College. His 17.4 scoring average was tops on the team and fourth in the PBC. Third on the squad in scoring last season was returning junior guard Ryan Blumenthal. Blumenthal hit for 11.6 points per contest, including six 20-point games. The lone senior on this year's squad is forward Larrentis Thomas. Thomas averaged nearly a double-double a season ago, scoring 10.3 points to go with 9.5 rebounds per contest. His rebound average ranked third in the Peach Belt.

The Bobcats feature a roster with eight newcomers, including four junior-college transfers, a sophomore transfer from a four-year school and a trio of freshmen.

SCOUTING THE ROYALS
The Royals went 14-13 overall and 12-10 in the South Atlantic Conference last season. This season the Royals roster features seven familiar faces and a number of newcomers. Transfers Marquis Rankin, Rob Lewis and Sean Morgan will be expected to make immediate impacts on the court alongside Queens' returning upperclassmen. The Royals were picked to finish third in the SAC.

SCOUTING THE LIONS
Emmanuel makes the transition this year to the NCAA Division I, first-year members of the Conference Carolinas. Emmanuel went 33-4 last season as members of the NAIA, falling in the National Championship game to Vanguard.  NAIA All-American Michael Stanley returns for his senior season; the 6-foot-1 guard averaged 16.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game a year ago.

THE COACH
Georgia College Director of Athletics Wendell Staton announced the hiring of long-time assistant Mark Gainous as the new Bobcat Men's Basketball head coach Aug. 19. Gainous fills the vacancy left by the retirement of 21-year vet Terry Sellers. Gainous becomes the eighth head coach in Georgia College men's basketball history.

Gainous has patrolled the sidelines for the Bobcats for the last 11 seasons as assistant men's basketball coach. He has helped the team to a 177-131 (.575) record, including four 20-win seasons. The Bobcats picked up a Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Regular-Season title in 2005-06, and earned three trips to the NCAA Tournament, including a Sweet-16 run in 2006. Gainous has helped coach 11 student-athletes to All-PBC status, including PBC Player of the Year and All-American Honorable Mention Jeremy Mayweather (2004-06). Gainous has taken the reigns for a handful of games in the last few seasons, when coach Sellers missed time for health issues for both his family and himself. The assistant served as head coach for the upset win over then No. 7 Augusta State University in the 2010-11 season.

UP NEXT
Bobcat men's basketball travels to Albany State University for non-conference action Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.