Georgia Basketball: Bulldogs defeat Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Georgia basketball was able to snag another victory on Nov. 20, defeating Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 68-65 despite committing 24 turnovers.
Even though Georgia held a 30-16 lead at halftime in their game against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, the team came out of the break and struggled mightily. The Bulldogs gave up 49 second-half points to Texas A&M-CC and nearly lost the game. Yet, they were able to come out on top 68-65 and there are obviously many things to improve upon.
Coach Fox said after the game: “What I like about our team is that we have a lot of guys who are learning new roles.” Well, the Bulldogs need to learn faster.
Georgia turned the ball over 24 times, including seven by SEC Preseason Player of the Year Yante Maten. The Dawgs turned the ball over three times in the first two minutes of the second half while Texas A&M-Corpus Christi began a 19-6 run that tied the score at 36 with 14 minutes left to play.
While power forward Yante Maten often did not handle the double and triple teaming of the Islanders well, he was otherwise splendid. Maten registered his third double-double in as many games with 19 points and 13 rebounds on 5-for-8 shooting from the field. He has yet to miss a free throw this season, going 8-for-8 in this one.
Georgia freshman forward Rayshaun Hammonds scored 15. The top-50 recruit is proving to be all Georgia hoped he would be offensively. Derek Ogbeide scored 8 on 4-for-5 shooting while reeling in nine rebounds.
Georgia Bulldogs Basketball
Georgia remains unsettled at point guard, though. Turtle Jackson started at the position and played 24 minutes, scoring three points and dishing out four assists while turning the ball over three times. Tyree Crump played at the shooting guard spot in the first half, but with five minutes to play in the game, Coach Fox turned the point guard duties over to the sophomore.
Jordan Harris returned to the lineup after enduring Coach Fox’s doghouse for the first two games of the season. Harris entered the game with five minutes to play in the first half and scored a fast-break layup. Harris re-entered the game again at the five-minute mark in the second half and provided a desperately needed defensive lift while scoring four points.
The athletic Harris is a difference maker for Georgia on both ends of the floor. With the backcourt issues exhibited by the Dawgs, it is critical that Harris gives Coach Fox no reason to bench him again.
Crump, Maten, Hammonds, Harris, and Ogbeide finished the game for the Bulldogs. The quintet was the most effective lineup in the game for the Dawgs and perhaps the season.
In March, this lackluster effort by the Bulldogs will just be looked at as just another W. Georgia basketball fans hope it is not a predictor of future performance, though.
Georgia travels to Fullerton, California for the Wooden Legacy Classic, which begins on Thursday, next. The Bulldogs’ first opponent is host Cal State Fullerton. Georgia will then play either Sacramento State or San Diego State.