LAKEWOOD, NJ (Nov. 11, 2023) - Georgian Court Men's Basketball scheduled a tough season opener for the 2023-24 season. They played host to the number 16 team in the country, the Bentley Falcons. The game was still around 10 points late in the second half, but Bentley pulled away going on to win 86-61.
How it Happened
• Both teams shot better than 40% from the floor. Georgian Court was 27-60, 45%, and Bentley 30-64 (47%).
• The Falcons hit twice as many three-pointers, 10-5, seven in the first half.
• Bentley did a good job getting to the free throw line. They were 16-20 at the stripe while Georgian Court was just 2-4.
• Rebounding favored the Falcons, 40-29. They also grabbed 14 on the offensive glass and scored 21 second-chance points.
• Each team limited turnovers. Georgian Court lost it 12 times and Bentley 10.
First Half
• The Falcons scored the first six points of the game, connecting on some open layups.
• Once the Lions got their feet under them, they hung with the Falcons for most of the first half.
Amari Jones hit a three at the 12:44 mark making it a 17-13 game.
• Late in the half though, Bentley went on a 10-4 run, turning an eight-point lead into a 14-point lead.
• The lead stayed in double-figures the rest of the half.
Donavin Crawford's block in the final seconds kept the Falcon lead at 18, 47-29 at the half.
Second Half
• Bentley never lost the lead in the second half.
• Georgian Court went on an 18-9 run to bring the lead down to 12 with 6:32 left to play, but that's as close as they got.
• The Falcons responded scoring eight straight bringing the lead back to 20, and going on to win 86-61.
• The second half was much closer than the first. GCU shot 48% overall in the half and held Bentley to 36%. Rebounding was also tighter with Bentley at +4.
Lion Stat Leaders
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Clint Wright, Jr. led the Lions scoring 15 points going 6-11 overall and 3-5 from three. He dished out four assists as well.
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Donavin Crawford got the start and scored 11 going 5-8 from the floor.
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Khalil Baker came off the bench to score 11 as well with five rebounds.
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Amari Jones led GCU with nine rebounds and scored five points.
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Cameron Edmonds grabbed seven rebounds and scored three points with two assists.
For the Falcons
• Zach Laput scored a game-high 23 going 8-14 from the floor and 3-4 from distance. He completed a double-double with 11 rebounds.
• Ivan Misic was 5-7 overall for 13 points.
• Joe Carroll came off the bench to score 12 with a pair of three-pointers and five boards.
• Cash McClure added 11 points.
News and Notes
• Clint Wright Jr. scored his 900th career point.
•
Donavin Crawford surpassed 100 points for his career.
• This was just the second all-time meeting between the Lions and Falcons. GCU has dropped both and both games were played on Nov. 11.
Up Next
• Georgian Court is back home next weekend. They'll take on Kutztown Saturday night, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.
