LAKEWOOD, N.J. (Dec. 17, 2022) - Following an historic win over Division I Delaware State and with the holiday break on the horizon, for 20 minutes it looked like Georgian Court Men's Basketball might have been overlooking the 3-7 Staten Island Dolphins. The Lions trailed by as much as 12 and were down 11 at halftime, but turned things around in the second half, outscoring CSI 40-25 for a 66-62 comeback win. Georgian Court is 6-4 over their first 10 games and winners of two straight heading into the Division II Life in the Balance.

How it Happened
• The two teams played an evenly matched game. Georgian Court didn't have their best day shooting, going 24-68 (35.3%) and 9-25 from three. Staten Island shot 42.9% overall and were also 9-25 from deep.
• Georgian Court held the advantage on the glass, outrebounding the Dolphins 44-36 with 16 offensive rebounds. They turned those offensive boards into 13 second-chance points. The Dolphins scored just two second-chance points.
• Both teams played a clean game. The Lions committed just six turnovers, doing an outstanding job of protecting the ball. They also committed just 10 fouls. Staten Island lost the ball 14 times while committing 13 fouls.
• Georgian Court put themselves ahead early and with back-to-back three-pointers from Jalen Bates and Jamaal Waters, GCU led 9-4. Staten Island responded though scoring eight straight to claim a 12-9 lead before Jelani Jackson tied things at 12 at the 14-minute mark.
• Midway through the first half is when Staten Island started to pull away. Leading by just one, 20-19, they scored 11 straight as Georgian Court went more than three minutes without scoring. They opened up a 12-point lead and despite Bates and Hassan Jackson bringing the lead down to eight, a three with just five seconds remaining gave the Dolphins an 11-point lead, 37-26, at intermission.
• Three minutes into the second half and Georgian Court still hadn't gained any ground on the Dolphins. That changed when Clint Wright, Jr. splashed a triple making it 42-34. A little Lion run cut the lead down to five, 44-39 with 12:32 left to play.
• Staten Island hung on tight though and after a three-pointer with 4:21 left, still led by eight, 58-50. 
• Jamaal Waters though went on the offensive after that. First drawing a foul and sinking a pair of free throws. Then after a turnover, Waters with a thunderous dunk brought GCU within four, 58-54. Jelani Jackson followed with a three and with three minutes left to play, it was a one-point game.
• Now past the two minute mark and Waters collects an offensive rebound and finishes, giving GCU their first lead since early in the game, 59-58. A bad pass gave the Lions the ball back and Wright, Jr. made the Dolphins pay with a three-pointer, giving Georgian Court a 62-58 lead with less than a minute to play.
• Staten Island needed to foul just to get to the one-and-one. First up was Wright, Jr. who made both giving the Lions their largest lead of the game, 64-58.
• After a Dolphin basket, they got the ball back after the Lions didn't convert on the front-end of a one-and-one and made it a one-possession game, 64-62, with eight seconds left.
• Georgian Court was able to get the ball in the hands of Wright and he calmly gave GCU a two-possession lead once again, 66-62, which was our final. 

It Was Over When...
• Needing one for a three-point lead, and two for a two-possession lead, Clint Wright, Jr. stepped to the free throw line and sunk both ends of the one-and-one, giving the Lions a four-point lead, 66-62, with just seven seconds to play. Staten Island never even got another shot attempt off and the Lion comeback was complete.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Jamaal Waters picked up another double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
• Clint Wright, Jr. scored 15 going 5-5 at the free throw line.
• Jalen Bates was 3-4 from three and scored 13 with three assists and four rebounds.
• Jelani Jackson came off the bench to hit three three-pointers and scored 11 points.
• Shane Williams and Hassan Jackson each grabbed a team-high six rebounds.

For the Dolphins
• Messiah Mallory also had a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds. He also blocked four shots.
• Bryce Waterman played just 21 minutes and scored 16 points going 4-7 from three.
• Luis Armas was also 4-7 from behind the arc and added 14 points.
• JJ Chestnut scored six points and passed out eight assists.

News and Notes
• The Lions six turnovers are their fewest in a game this season. Also their fewest since January 30, 2021.
• GCU's 10 fouls are also their fewest of the year.
• Jelani Jackson became the 10th Lion to reach 50 career three-pointers. He also surpassed 400 career points. 
• Shane Williams becomes the ninth Lion to collect 300 career rebounds.
• Christian Armstrong-Thomas made his 50th career field goal. 
• Jamaal Waters has three double-doubles this season and two in his last three games. 
• Jalen Bates' 13 points are a season-high. After his 3-4 performance from behind the arc, he's 4-6 from three this season. 
• Dolphins leading scorer, Bryce Waterman, returned to action after missing the previous six games. 

Up Next
• The Lions will have almost two weeks off. Division II Life in the Balance runs Dec. 20-26 with first practices being able to be held the 27th. GCU's first game will be at home Thursday, Dec. 29 against Jefferson as a part of a CACC doubleheader with the Lion women. Tip off is scheduled for 2 p.m.