Sophomore forward Yante Maten scored a career-high and UGA National Invitational Tournament record 33 points, leading third-seeded Georgia to a 93-84 victory over No. 6-seed Belmont Wednesday night in first round action of the NIT in Stegeman Coliseum.
 
 
With the win Georgia (20-13, 10-8) posted its third straight 20-win campaign for the second time in 111 seasons of intercollegiate competition. The Bulldogs are 3-0 all-time against the Bruins (20-12, 12-4).
 
 

 
 
Maten, who came into the game with five three-pointers made all season, buried three shots from behind the arc en route to his 33 points. The sophomore dropped a career-high 14 field goals and hauled in 10 rebounds. The Bulldogs were hot from deep asCharles Mann also tied a career-high with four makes from behind the arc.
 
 
“That was a great win for our team,” head coach Mark Fox said. “Because our kids get to keep playing and that is the most important thing. These guys were able to advance in the tournament and extend their season. To get win number 20 was significant to our team and to these players in our program. We beat a very good and well-coached basketball team. I’m proud of our kids.”
 
 
The Bulldogs came out firing with Maten, Kenny Gaines and Mann all burying three-point baskets to take an early 11-7 lead. Georgia used steady play down low and forced the Bruins to a 2-12 start behind the arc to take a 19-12 lead at the midway point of the half. The Bulldogs then went on a 12-5 run extending their lead to 31-20 with 7:17 to go. The Bruins hit several shots late in the half to cut the Bulldogs’ lead to 45-38 at the break. Georgia relied heavily on its big man, Maten, who led all scorers in the half with 20 points.
 
 
The first five minutes of the second half were a back and forth affair as both teams traded baskets on the offensive end. The Bulldogs got a big three-point basket from William Jackson II followed by a layup from Kenny Gaines to bring their lead back to double digits. The Bruins followed with a 7-0 run of their own to cut the lead to 64-61, with just over eight minutes to play. With Georgia’s lead cut 71-69, Maten stole the ball from a Belmont guard and drove the length of the floor finishing with a big one-hand dunk. The sophomore scored an and-one play down low on the next possession, pushing Georgia’s lead back up to seven. The final three minutes belonged to the Bulldogs as UGA finished strong to win the contest, 93-84.