LAKEWOOD, N.J. (Jan. 4, 2023) - Georgian Court Men's Basketball had a tall task to start 2023, taking on New Haven ranked sixth in the latest D2SIDA East Region Poll. Despite holding the Chargers below their normal season averages, the Lions weren't able to hold them off entirely in a 69-60 loss. The loss sets GCU back to 7-6 at the midway point in the season. 

How it Happened
• The long ball kept the Lions in the game. They attempted 27 three-pointers, making 10 of them including going 6-15 in the first half. The Charger size kept GCU out of the paint as they were just 13-36 inside the arc and limited to just 20 points in the paint.
• New Haven meanwhile shot 43.6% overall with 28 of their 69 points coming in the paint. They dominated the rebounding game 46-27 with 11 offensive rebounds that they turned into 10 second-chance points. The Lions did a good job converting their five offensive boards into 11 second-chance points.
• Georgian Court also helped themselves out turning the ball over just nine times. New Haven lost the handle 16 times with GCU coming up with 10 steals.
• Both teams did a good job staying out of foul trouble. The Lions finished with 17, but most of those came in the final minute as they needed to foul to extend the game. UNH finished 13-17 at the line while Georgian Court was just 4-6, two of those free throws coming on a technical foul.
• The game started with Jamaal Waters backing down 7-foot-1 Majur Majak for a layup and Jelani Jackson buried a three for an early 5-0 Lion lead. The lead quickly evaporated though behind a 14-4 New Haven stretch over a 5:20 span. GCU got to within one, 16-15, after a Cameron Edmonds three, but New Haven scored the next eight, going 2-2 from three to open up a 24-15 lead.
• Georgian Court hung tight in the half and on their final possession, Clint Wright, Jr. sunk a deep three to get the Lions within six, 37-31, heading into the break.
• Coming out to start the second half, Tyrone Perry extended the Charger lead almost by himself. UNH opened the half on an 8-2 run with six of those points coming from Perry.
• For much of the second half, the New Haven lead hung around 10. Leading by nine, New Haven got back-to-back threes from Davontrey Thomas and Sean Braithwaite to take their largest lead, 66-51, with 2:26 left to play.
• Clint Wright, Jr. scored five straight on his own before GCU needed to foul. The Chargers went just 3-6 at the line, but it was enough to hold off a Georgian Court comeback as they held on 69-60.

It Was Over When...
• Georgian Court had a chance to make things interesting late for New Haven, who missed the front end of a one-and-one, but the Lions couldn't convert at the other end and the possessions ran out with New Haven able to hold on despite going 3-6 at the line in the final minute.

Lions Stat Leaders
• Cameron Edmonds came off the bench to lead the Lions with 20 points. He was 6-11 from three with four rebounds.
• Jamaal Waters scored 14 with four steals.
• Clint Wright, Jr. added 13 points.
• Jalen Bates finished with eight points, seven rebounds and three assists.

For the Chargers
• Tyrone Perry led all scorers with 21 points going 8-12 overall with three rebounds, four assists and two steals.
• Quashawn Lane finished with 14 points, seven coming at the free throw line.
• Davontrey Thomas notched a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
• Majur Majak pulled down 17 rebounds.

News and Notes
• Cameron Edmonds' 20 points are a new career-high. He also eclipsed 100 points this season. 
• The Lions finished their four-game homestand 2-2.
• This is the third time this season the Lions have turned the ball over fewer than 10 times.
• Shane Williams moved to seventh all-time at GCU in career rebounds pulling down his 309th.
• Georgian Court is at the midway point in their season with 13 games played and 14 left to go. 

Up Next
• Georgian Court plays outside the Wellness Center for the first time since Dec. 10. They travel to Nyack, NY to take on Alliance (formerly Nyack) Sunday, Jan. 8 at 4 p.m.