GC Men’s Basketball Shocks GRU Augusta with Last-Second Shot, 56-55

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. (GCSU RELEASE) – On a last-second effort, Georgia College men’s basketball (7-8, 3-5 PBC) did what no other team in the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) has accomplished this season, beating GRU Augusta (14-3, 7-1 PBC) 56-55 at the Centennial Center.

Down 55-54 with 0.3 seconds remaining, senior Royal Thomas (LaGrange, Ga.) elevated, took a pass from Ryan Blumenthal (Kennesaw, Ga.), re-directed it off the glass and in for the win as time expired. Royal Thomas finished with 11 points.

The game was a battle nearly throughout, as neither team mounted a double-digit advantage. A six-point Jaguar lead at the 5:06 mark was quickly erased by three-point plays on consecutive possessions by Larrentis Thomas (McDonough, Ga.) and Blumenthal. Larrentis Thomas finished with 12 points and Blumenthal 13.

With just 13 ticks left, K.J. Sherrill muscled his way for a lay-in, giving GRUA a 55-54 lead. Royal Thomas took the in-bounds the length of the floor and missed a lay-up from the left side, the rebound tipping off a Jaguar defender out of bounds to set up the fraction-of-a-second heroics.

Larrentis Thomas nearly pulled in a double-double with eight rebounds to lead the way for Georgia College.

Both teams battled defensively, the Bobcats out-shooting GRUA 41 percent (23-56) to 37 percent (20-54) from the field. The Jaguars edged Georgia College on the glass 39-34, including 14-11 on the offensive boards.

Sherrill led the scoring for GRUA with a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double. Devonte Thomas aided the cause with 10 points off the pine. Nine of the 11 players that saw action reached the scoring column for the Jaguars.

The Bobcats are back in action Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. hosting No. 15 USC Aiken (15-2, 7-0 PBC). Wednesday’s game will serve as “Spirit Night” for the Bobcats.