LAKEWOOD, NJ (Dec. 16, 2023) - Georgian Court Men's Basketball heads into the holiday following a 91-74 loss to Southern Connecticut State in non-conference action Saturday afternoon. The Owls led throughout and drop GCU to 1-8 on the season.

How it Happened
• Southern Connecticut finished the game shooting better than 50% from the floor. They hit 28-51 including eight triples.
• Georgian Court shot 44% overall, helped out by going 20-36 in the second half. The Lions struggled behind the arc hitting 5-18 from deep. 
• Free throws were a big part of the story. Georgian Court committed 29 personal fouls and the Owls took 43 free throws. They hit just 27, shooting 63% at the line.
• The Lions led in rebounding 36-34 and on the offensive glass 20-13.
• Both teams turned the ball over plenty. The Lions lost the handle 17 times and the Owls 16. SCSU scored 29 points off turnovers to the Lions 14 while also leading in fast-break points 17-14.
First Half
• The game started with each team turning the ball over once before a field goal was even attempted. Jahsan Johnson turned it over for GCU which led to a Kazell Stewart dunk the other way and the Owls were off and running.
• At the 16:20 mark, SCSU hit a three, going up 11-3.
• The Lions started out hitting two of their first three three-pointers. That, plus a three-point play from Khalil Baker kept GCU within four at 13-9 at the 14:45 mark.
• GCU cut the lead down to two, 15-13, midway through the period on back-to-back layups from Cameron Edmonds and Kamaal Cox. But SCSU answered with an 8-1 run, pushing the lead back to nine, 23:14 with just over 10 minutes to play in the half.
• The two teams traded baskets for a bit and following a Taheen Braswell-Brown layup at the 5:26 mark in the half, GCU trailed by eight, 35-27.
• Those were the last points in the half though for GCU, who went scoreless the final 5:26 while the Owls scored 15 to take a 50-27 lead at the half.
• Over those final five minutes, GCU turned the ball over five times and also committed a technical foul, one of two on the afternoon for the Lions. 
• Southern Connecticut didn't miss a field goal during the run going 4-4 from the floor and 1-1 from three while also hitting 6-9 at the line, taking a 23-point lead into the half.
Second Half
• The Lions were never able to get to within 10 in the second half, but still put forth a spirited effort to get there.
• GCU outscored the Owls 47-41 in the second half, but were called for 16 personal fouls, sending SCSU to the line 23 times.
• Georgian Court started the half with a Clint Wright, Jr. three and an Amari Jones layup in the first 66 seconds bringing the lead back under 20.
• Each time GCU was able to get a little spark of momentum, the Owls responded to keep the Lions at arm's length.
• A three from Sean James at the 15:37 mark put the Owls up 61-36, their largest lead of the game. 
• On a pair of occasions midway through the half, layups from Edmonds and Braswell-Brown made it a 13-point game, but SCSU was able to put a stop to the Lion rally each time.
• Over the final three minutes, the Owls were awarded eight free throws, hitting five while also making a pair of baskets to put the game away, 91-74.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Cameron Edmonds led the Lions scoring 17 points with four assists, two rebounds a block and a steal.
• Clint Wright, Jr. scored 16 with four boards.
• Taheen Braswell-Brown added 12 and a team-high six rebounds.
• Anthony Rivera filled out the box score with 12 points, four steals, three rebounds and three assists.
• Justin Harper and Khalil Baker each added five points. Harper picked up five rebounds as well.

For the Owls
• Kazell Stewart didn't miss going 7-7 from the floor for 21 points. He was also 7-10 at the foul line with five rebounds.
• Josh McGettigan added 17 points making 11-15 at the line.
• Marty Silvera nearly had a double-double with nine points, eight assists, six rebounds and four steals.
• Sean James and Christian Joe each added nine points.

News and Notes
• GCU set season-highs with 74 points and 30 made field goals.
• Clint Wright, Jr. moves to fourth all-time at GCU in minutes played.
• Cameron Edmonds passed out his 50th assist. 
• Edmonds and Anthony Rivera set season-highs in points. 
• This is just the second ever meeting between these teams. SCSU has now won both.
• In their last two home games, the Lions have come up with 17 steals.

Up Next
• This is the start of a five-game homestand for Georgian Court, but the next game isn't for two weeks. They're back in action after the holiday two Saturday's from now, Dec. 30 in a CACC clash with Goldey-Beacom.