UGA Bulldog Basketball Defeats High Point, 66-58
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ATHENS, Ga. The Georgia men's basketball team used a balanced offensive attack with four players scoring in double figures to pick up a 66-58 win against High Point before 6,523 spectators inside Stegeman Coliseum on Saturday evening.
Silas Demary Jr. led the Bulldogs (7-3) in scoring for the second time in his career with 12 points along with six rebounds, four assists and two steals. RJ Melendez, Russel Tchewa, and Noah Thomasson all contributed with 11 points each. Melendez added seven rebounds and a pair of steals, Tchewa had six boards and a career-high three blocks while Thomasson recorded six rebounds and three assists. Georgia held High Point (8-4), who ranks top-10 in Division I in scoring offense, to a season-low 58 points and 23.3 percent shooting from the field.
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The Panthers came out hot, using their size to create a 15-1 advantage on the offensive glass in the first half and lead for almost the entire opening frame. Georgia trailed, 33-30, heading into the locker room. High Point continued to control the flow of the game, managing to respond each time the Bulldogs made a run to close the gap. Georgia regained its first lead since 17:56 in the first half at 45-43 following five-straight points from Frank Anselem-Ibe and a 3-pointer from Melendez with 11:02 remaining. The Bulldogs would go on to hold the lead for the remainder of the contest, picking up its seventh win of the season.
Georgia will return to action on Dec. 20 at 5:30 p.m. ET against Mount Saint Mary's. The game, which will mark the team's fourth of a six-game homestand, will be streamed on the SEC Network+. This will be the first all-time meeting between the Bulldogs and Mountaineers.
Five Fast Facts
The Bulldogs held High Point, who ranks top-10 nationally in scoring offense in Division-I, to a season low of 58 points. Its previous low was 72 points against Queens College on Nov. 14.
Georgia held High Point to 23.3 percent shooting from the field, which is the lowest opponent field goal percentage the Bulldogs have allowed this season and the first time an opposing team shot under 30 percent since Mississippi State did so on Jan. 11, 2023.
For the ninth time in 10 games this season and the 32nd time under Coach White, Georgia outscored its opponent in bench points, 25-8.
RJ Melendez finished with 11 points in the contest, marking the fourth time in the last six games he's reached double figures in scoring.
Russel Tchewa set a new career-best in blocks with three, all in the first half, after previously recording a personal-best of one block in 31 different games throughout his career.
Key Quote
Head Coach Mike White: "Really good win for us. Long stretch of not playing. Exams. And a team that is a dangerous schedule for a lot of reasons. And they just showed all of us. They shot the ball, 73 shots, 25 offensive rebounds. They had 15 offensive rebounds at the half. They really move it. They do a great job. They're going to win a bunch of games this season, and we were very fortunate."