By: Bailey Clark, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga.- Georgia College & State University Men's Basketball (5-11, 1-6 PBC) had a massive 84-77 first home win over No. 17 Young Harris College (14-2, 5-2 PBC), Wednesday night. The first home win also doubles as the first conference win for the Bobcats in the 2022-23 season. 

GCSU struck first in the first quarter on a two-point jump-shot from Brendan Rigsbee (Suwanee) for a lead the Bobcats would not give up in the first half. GCSU went into the half leading the Mountain Lions 38-34. Both offenses came out of the half hot scoring over 40 points apiece. YHC came out of the half with the first two blows and took their first lead of the contest. The lead went back and forth through the second quarter until Zyair Greene (Lithonia) iced a three-point bucket to give the Bobcats the one-point lead. Once GCSU reclaimed the lead they never gave it up which led to 46 second-half points and an 84-77 win. 

The big sophomore Greene led the scoring effort dropping a career-high of 32 points on the Mountain Lion offense. Green was unstoppable as he went 6-for-8 from three-point range and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. The last Bobcat to net more than 32 points in a contest was in the Feb. 19, 2022 contest against Clayton State University where Jordan Thomas knocked down 32 points. 

The great transfer portal Rigsbee was also a force to be reckoned with on the Bobcat offense as he also banked his career-high of 23 points as the team's second-leading scorer. Rigsbee went 8-for-13 from field-goal range and 6-for-6 for a perfect night at the free-throw stripe. 

Richard Crawford III (Evans) rounded out the double-digit scoring for the Bobcats with 10 points shooting 100% from field goal range. 

Greene had an impressive night not only leading the team in scoring but in rebounding as well nabbing six. The post players Austin Sloan (Warner Robins) and Chapin Rierson (Calhoun) were the second-leading rebounders with five apiece. Rigsbee had a stellar night on defense as well as he had four steals and four blocked shots both of which led the team. 

A big night for the Bobcats as this is the first time since Jan. 31, 2009, that the blue and green have nabbed a top 20 win. During this season Augusta University owned the No. 7 national spot and GCSU took the 79-76 win. Last season the Bobcats took down No. 25 Miles College on Dec. 3, 2021, which was the last time GCSU had taken a win from a nationally ranked opponent. 

The Bobcats are back in action on the road Saturday, Jan. 21 to take on Clayton State University. Live stats and broadcast links will be available for the 3:30 p.m. tip-off at GCBobcats.com. 

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.