MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. | Zyair Greene scored 28 points and helped to force overtime, but Georgia College & State University fell to Georgia Southwestern State University 90-87 in a Peach Belt Conference men's basketball game to spoil homecoming Saturday (Feb. 22) night inside the Centennial Center.
The Bobcats, who are 1-4 in overtime games this season, fell to 9-17 overall and to 3-13 in the PBC, while the Hurricanes climbed to 9-17 and 4-12. GCSU will play its final home regular season game against Augusta University Tuesday (Feb. 25) at 7:30 p.m. The Bobcats will recognized their senior class prior to the game.
Back-to-back three-pointers by Jacob Feagin and Lars Nilsen gave the Hurricanes a five-point lead at the 10:46 mark (17-12). Georgia Southwestern continued to pad its lead throughout the remainder of the half to increase the lead to nine points (35-26) at the half.
The Hurricanes quickly increased their lead to 12 (50-38) to begin the second half, but the Bobcats used a trio of three-pointers, all from Oscar Lynch, to decrease the deficit to six (50-44) with 12:29 to go1. Georgia Southwestern maintained its lead as a three-pointer from Antewan Webber Jr. brought the Bobcat deficit back to double-digits at 67-56 with 6:24 remaining.
GCSU was not done as a 9-1 run, capped off by a three-pointer from Khalil Green, pulled the Bobcats within three (68-65) with 4:32 left. A layup from Aidan Kudlas tied the game at 68, followed by a three-pointer from Greene to give the Bobcats their first lead (71-68) since the first half. A late three-pointer the old-fashioned way by Georgia Southwestern's Josiah Shackleford tied the game at 73 with 1:27 remaining, and neither team could put something on the board, sending the game to overtime.
Georgia Southwestern stole back the momentum to open overtime, beginning with a couple of free throws and a duo of three-pointers from Webber and Gavin Guion gave the Hurricanes. 83-77 lead with 3:05 to go. However, the Bobcats battled back and got within three points (90-87) on a Mason Etter three-pointer with 16 seconds left. The Bobcats had one last chance to send the game into a second overtime shot, but Greene's three-pointer fell short.
Greene led GCSU in points with 28, which was followed by Lynch (18), Kudlas (11), and Dallas Clayton (11). Lynch also claimed a double-double, leading the Bobcats in rebounds with a career-high 13. Kudlas amassed six assists.
About GCSU Athletics
Owning the top Academic Success Rate among all public colleges and universities in Division II for four consecutive academic years, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GCSU Athletics has won five consecutive Presidents' Awards for Academic Excellence, and are two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup and four-time winners of the PBC Institution of the Year Sportsmanship Award. 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 or subscribe to the GSCU Athletics e-newsletter to receive the latest news, schedule updates and to interact with GCSU Athletics.
