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MBB Photos/Video/Box Score: Georgia Rolls 81-65 Over Charleston Southern

NOTES:

• Tonight’s game marks the fifth meeting between the two programs with the Bulldogs now holding a 5-0 edge, all in Athens.

• Starting Streak – Georgia rolled out the same starting five for the 12th consecutive game with Cain, Demary Jr., Lawrence, Godfrey, and Newell.

• Strong Starts – The Bulldogs 11-1 start is the program’s best start since 2001 when the team also started the season 11-1.

• Big Off the Bench – Dakota Leffew and De’Shayne Montgomery combined for 41 of Georgia’s 51 bench point, besting the Buccaneers 51-5 amongst non-starters. The Bulldogs’ bench has outscored the opposing bench in 10 of 12 contests this season.

• Plus for Justin – Justin Abson finished the game +24 without scoring. The center gathered a team-high eight boards and three blocks, with two steals.

• Nonstop Newell – The freshman standout Asa Newell has scored double-digit points in 11 of 12 games this season with 14 tonight.

• Extend It – Despite losing the offensive rebound battle, the Bulldogs scored 14 second chance points compared to Charleston Southern’s four.

QUOTES:

Georgia Head Coach Mike White

On the win… 

“I want to say we were up 7-0 or 10-0 or something like that. So, we got off to a pretty good start on the very front end and then I thought it was somewhat clean there the rest of the half. We missed some, and they made some. [Taje] Kelly’s a very, very difficult matchup and played his butt off. I thought number 22, their all-conference point guard, I thought he was really good with his decisions. We tried to pressure him the entire game, and he continued to be really solid. They executed well. Their physicality was a big factor early on, and our aura, our level of confidence changed a little bit. It was almost, and we prepared our guys for a dogfight, we really did, but credit Charleston Southern for, although our guys knew what was coming in terms of the block outs and the wall ups, the wrestling matches near the rim. Their physicality level was similar to the power teams that we’ve played to this point, and again, despite that preparation, it still was a factor. They rebounded right there with us. We were coming, we were behind in the rebounding game the entire game. We had three offensive rebounds at half, which is you look at the film at half and you think to yourself, could we be playing a little bit harder, maybe? But they were just really sharp with their defensive responsibilities.”

On the team’s depth.. 

“We’ve got really good depth in our front court and our back court. We talked about the impact that Justin Abson and Dylan James and Somto Cyril had on the game as front court guys. Those back court guys, the mount, the two-headed mount, those guys came in and played really well, got baskets. They were pretty solid defensively as well. Our guards could have done a better job to help us on the glass, both offensively and defensively, but it’s nice, it’s a luxury to have some depth in both our back court and our front court.”

On Dakota Leffew and De’Shayne Montgomery… 

“We recruited each one of them individually. They had a different, unique process that was about them. And De’Shayne committed first, and then we asked him for his help a little bit. And Dakota, they took a couple more visits. And both of these guys had hard decisions to make because they had a number of high-level programs that were after them. We’re fortunate to get one. We’re really fortunate to get both. We sat in here about a year ago, and knew both of them were SEC-level players. They had a staff change, and those guys get in the portal. And it’s funny, Mount St. Mary’s playing really well right now. They’re doing a really good job up there.”

On Justin Abson….

“He was fantastic. I mean, had three blocks, has eight rebounds, three offensive rebounds, got us extra possessions, did not take a shot, and was plus 24. Yeah, that’s really unique. He was a big factor in us being in the win column in this one.”

On the break before S.C. State….

“We’ll be ready when we come back. It’s a much-needed break, mentally, physically. Our guys need to get away from it for a little bit, miss it, come back, rejuvenate it on the 26th, one more tune-up for the grind of the SEC, the best league in the country. But we’ll be prepared for South Carolina State. They’re a team like Charleston Southern, they’re dangerous, they play really hard, they’ve been really competitive, another good team.”

Box Score

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