By: Bailey Clark, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

AIKEN, S.C.- Georgia College & State University Men's Basketball (4-10, 0-5 PBC) took a tough 89-79 loss to USC Aiken (11-4, 4-1 PBC), Wednesday night. 

Through the first half of the contest the Bobcats and the Pacers traded buckets back and forth until the Bobcats took the 8-3 lead. Through the first three and a half minutes of play GCSU held USCA to a single basket which came at the beginning of the contest. The two squads continued to trade buckets until around the 10 minute mark where the Pacers took the 19-17 lead and continued to build from there. At the half the Bobcats trailed 44-29. 

The second mirrored the first as the Bobcats and the Pacers traded buckets for the first 10 minutes. Come near the 11 minute mark Luke Chism (Dawsonville, Georgia) got GCSU on a scoring rally as the offense iced 10 unanswered points to put the contest back within reach. This 10 point stretch helped the Bobcats outscore USCA in the second half 50-45. Once the Pacers called a timeout to regroup they came out and traded baskets with the Bobcats to maintain their 10 point lead and take the win 89-79. 

The contest was offense heavy for both squads. The depth of the Bobcat bench showed tonight as there were six double-digit scorers. Austin Sloan (Warner Robins, Georgia) and Zyair Greene (Lithonia, Georgia) highlighted the offense icing 14 points apiece. Sloan went 6-for-11 from field goal range including two three point buckets. Greene had the hot arm in the contest going 5-for-6 from field goal range including a hot 4-for-5 from behind the arc. The second leading scorers for the Bobcats were Brandon Thomas (McDonough, Georgia) and Richard Crawford III (Evans, Georgia) who knocked down 11 points apiece. Thomas shot for 50% from field goal range with all three of his buckets coming from behind the arc. Crawford went 4-for-7 on the night and banked both of his free throws. The final double-digit scores Chism and Ian Davis (Lawrenceville, Georgia) on the night for the Bobcats iced 10 points apiece. Chism went 4-for-7 from field goal range to account for the majority of his points. Davis had his first double-digit scoring game of the season and broke his career scoring high. He went an impressive 100% from three-point range and 2-for-4 from the free throw line. 

Brendan Rigsbee (Suwanee, Georgia) led the Bobcats in rebounding with 11 which doubled as his career high. Rigsbee nabbed nine defensive rebounds which also led the squad. Sloan was the second leading rebounder bringing in four all coming under the Pacer basket. 

The Bobcats are back in action Saturday, Jan. 14 to take on No. 22 the University of North Georgia in the Centennial Center. Live stats and broadcast links will be available for the 3:30 p.m. tip-off. 

As a proud recipient of the 2021 PBC Sportsmanship Institution of the Year, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GC Athletics is now two-time winners of both the PBC Commissioner's Cup and the league's sportsmanship honor. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' continued appearances in postseason competition as well as high-level academic success and community-service involvement. Bobcat Athletics embodies the mantra of "Graduating Champions for Life." Sign up at @GCSUBobcats on all social media outlets for up-to-the-minute reports.