MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The Georgia College Men's Basketball team (1-0, 1-0 PBC) kicked off the 2021 season with a 78-66 victory over Francis Marion University (0-1, 0-1 PBC) Thursday in the Centennial Center.

Both teams were playing in their respective season openers, lifting the lid on this abbreviated, Peach Belt Conference (PBC)-only schedule of 16 games.

The Bobcats were led by 22 points from electrifying senior Jordan Thomas (Conyers). He did much of his damage from long range, where he went 5-for-9, including three in the second half.

Senior Kohl Roberts (Atlanta) saw his first action after missing last season with an injury, and poured in 15 points with six boards. Freshman Luke Chism (Dawsonville) responded well to his first collegiate action, hitting 4-for-7 from the field for a 10-point, seven rebound effort. Junior Christian Koneman (Chatsworth) led the charge on the glass with eight caroms.

Thomas' performance today pushed him into fourth place in all-time scoring at Georgia College with 1,524 points. He passed Jerry Scott (1981) into fourth, and now stands 112 behind third place and the school's NCAA-era record of 1,636 points, owned by Terrell Harris (2016).

The Bobcats out-shot the Patriots 47 percent (24-51) to 33 percent (19-58). GC really stretched out their advantage by hitting three more shots from long range (10-7) and getting double the scoring punch off the bench compared to FMU (28-13).

The GC Men end a streak of four-straight losses on season openers, the last opening win for the Bobcats coming in 2015-16 over Emmanuel College. GC Men's Hoops has now won three of their last four PBC openers, however.

The Bobcats are back in action Saturday, Jan. 9 at 2 p.m. traveling to Augusta University. No spectators will be allowed at Saturday's road contest. Follow the game live at GCBobcats.com.

The Georgia College Department of Athletics is proud to receive the 2020 NCAA Division II Presidents' Award for Academic Excellence. The two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner Cup and the former PBC Sportsmanship Institution of the Year, GC Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on Graduating Champions For Life. Sign up at @GCBobcats on all social media outlets for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit GCBobcats.PhotoReflect.com to purchase photo prints from home athletic contests.