The Georgia Bulldogs downed the North Carolina Central Eagles, 95-59, on Wednesday night in Stegeman Coliseum.
Four Bulldogs recorded double-digit points in the win. Freshman Anthony Edwards led the way with 21, recording his fifth-game of the season to score more than 20 points but his first to shoot at least 50 percent from the field. Other Bulldogs in double-digit scoring included Junior Rayshaun Hammonds (19), senior Tyree Crump (16) and freshman Christian Brown (11). This marks Brown’s first-career double-figure game and career-high points scored.
Crump, making four three-pointers, moved up in the Georgia record book for most three-pointers in a career. His 145 three-pointers surpassed former Bulldogs Ty Wilson (1992-95) and Ray Harrison (1996-99) to climb to No. 12.
As a team, the Bulldogs grabbed 22 offensive rebounds, marking a season high. Georgia also won the rebounding battle, 54-25, with Hammonds’ nine boards leading the way. This was the fourth 90-plus scoring game for the Bulldogs, tying the number of games Georgia accomplished that feat last season.
“I thought our defense tonight, especially in the second half, became a lot better,” Georgia Head Coach Tom Crean said. “We held them to 24 percent shooting in the second half and 9 percent from three. I love the fact that we had three stops in a row 11 different times in the game. We had 47 deflections, we doubled them in rebounding, and we also had some good shots that did not go in.”
Though Georgia led for most of the opening period, North Carolina Central hung within one for the majority of the first five minutes of play. Back-to-back baskets from Edwards, including a fast-break jam, extended the Bulldogs lead to five, 14-9, with 13 minutes to play.
Georgia continued to increase its advantage, going on an 13-0 run over 3:09, capped with a three-pointer from Edwards, to gain its first double-digit lead of the night, 21-9. The Bulldogs eventually totaled a 16-3 run in under five minutes.
The Eagles cut Georgia’s deficit to single digits, nine points, only one time in the final 10 minutes of the opening half. The Bulldogs led by as many as 18, thanks to a 13-3 run over 2:31, capped by three-straight three’s, including two from Crump and one from Edwards.
Five-straight points from Edwards, who tallied 19 points in the first half alone, powered Georgia to its first 20-point lead of the night, 46-25, with 2:55 remaining. The Bulldogs entered the locker room leading the Eagles, 50-35.
Out of the locker room, Georgia went on an 11-0 run over three minutes, with scores from three different Bulldogs, to hand North Carolina Central what was then its largest deficit of the game (26).
An 11-0 Bulldogs’ run combined with a 5:18 scoring drought for the Eagles propelled Georgia to its first 30-plus point lead (33), 78-45, with 7:54 to play.
The Eagles were never able to cut the deficit below 30 points and the Bulldogs led by as many as 37. A free-throw from freshman Mike Peake sealed the 95-59 Georgia victory.
The Bulldogs will now enter a 10-day stretch with no games before they travel to Arizona State on Saturday, Dec. 14, to play the Sun Devils at 8 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. MST. The matchup will be televised on The PAC-12 Network.
Behind a dominant fourth-quarter performance, the defending national champion Baylor Lady Bears defeated the Georgia Lady Bulldog basketball team, 72-38, Wednesday evening at the Ferrell Center.
Georgia, which falls to 6-3 this season, stayed within striking distance for a large portion of the game, but was outscored 20-4 in the final 10 minutes. Baylor improves to 8-1 this season and has now won 45-straight home games.
Junior guards Gabby Connally and Maya Caldwell led the Lady Bulldogs in scoring with 11 points a piece. Georgia shot just 24 percent (14-of-58) from the field, while Baylor scored 22 points off 20 Lady Bulldog turnovers.
“There were some positive moments for our team,” head coach Joni Taylor said. “Some of our younger players played well. Chloe (Chapman) and Javyn (Nicholson) did a nice job and there’s Malury Bates, who also had a pretty good game. We have to play better, and this is another growing opportunity for our team.”
Connally, Caldwell and Jenna Staiti hit Georgia’s first three shots as the Lady Bulldogs trailed by just one — 8-7 — halfway through the first quarter.
The Lady Bears then went on a 7-0 run that was eventually halted by Que Morrison’s 18-foot jumper with 25 seconds to go in the quarter. Georgia committed eight turnovers and hit just four field goals, but stayed close, down 15-9 at the end of one.
After Baylor built a 12-point lead in the second frame, Connally drilled a 3-point basket and Morrison knocked in a pair of free-throws to put Georgia back within single digits. Baylor then finished the half on a 10-0 run, aided by eight points from Queen Egbo, to lead 39-20 at the break.
Egbo paced Baylor with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Georgia scored the first six points of the second half off a Caldwell 3-pointer and an old-fashioned three-point play from Staiti. The Lady Bulldogs outscored Baylor, 14-13, in the third period, but still trailed 52-34 going into the fourth quarter.
The Lady Bulldogs were held scoreless over the first eight minutes of the final quarter as Baylor went on a 16-0 run, pushing its lead to 68-34.
Georgia has 11 days off before hosting Furman on Dec. 15.