GC Men Drop First Game of New Year, 86-70

PEMBROKE, N.C. (GCSU RELEASE) – Another 20-point outburst from Terrell Harris (Indiantown, Fla.) wasn’t enough to derail one of the top teams in the southeast, as Georgia College men’s basketball (5-5, 1-2 PBC) lost 86-70 at UNC Pembroke (11-2, 2-1 PBC) Thursday night.

Harris had 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting, including three buckets from long range. He has now eclipsed the 20-point mark on five different occasions this season.

Harris was flanked by 13 points and five rebounds from senior Royal Thomas (LaGrange, Ga.) as well as a four threes and a 14-point game from sophomore Ryan Blumenthal (Kennesaw, Ga.). Eleven of his 14 came in the second half, helping keep the Bobcats close.

Freshman forward Kelvin Nwanze (Llagos, Nigera/Archer) had his best game as a Bobcat with six points and five rebounds in just 11 minutes of play.

The Bobcats were out-shot 43 percent (26-61) to 57 percent (33-58) and lost the battle of the boards to a 40-27 mark.

UNCP had four double-digit scorers, all in the starting lineup, as just 10 of the team’s 80 points came from the pine. Griffin Pittman led with a game-high 21 points, with 19 coming from Quamain Rose, 16 from Brandon Winford and another 14 from Ben Jacobs.

Georgia College battled, including a couple of leads early in the first half, but UNCP took the lead for good at the 5:50 mark of the first half. The Braves finished strong, powering through a 10-2 run over the final 3:20.

The Bobcats are back in action at home Saturday, Jan. 4 at 3:30 p.m., taking on the University of North Georgia. It will be “Stimulus Saturday” at the Centennial Center, as the Bobcats will offer free admission to all fans.