LAKEWOOD, N.J. (Feb. 4, 2023) - Georgian Court led for nearly 80% of the game against Dominican, but when the final horn sounded, it was Dominican on top 70-68. The loss puts the Lions at 10-12 this season and drops them to .500 in conference play, 6-6. 

How it Happened
• Forty minutes wasn't enough as the Lions and Chargers needed overtime to determine a winner. 
• Dominican entered as the top three-point shooting team in the CACC and proved their worth hitting 8-20. They were 41% overall and just 52% at the free throw line. Georgian Court connected on 35% overall, but were just 6-21 from downtown.
• The Lions dominated the rebounding battle. They grabbed 52 to the Chargers 37. Of those 52, 19 were offensive, but GCU was only able to convert those to 13 second-chance points.
• Empty possessions hurt GCU. They turned the ball over 16 times and forced just 10 from the Chargers.
• Shane William started the scoring with a layup and the Lions were off and running early. The Lions were up one, 15-14, before scoring nine straight to take a 10-point lead, 24-14. Most of the damage came at the foul line, as GCU was 5-5 at the stripe including Jelani Jackson converting on all three after being fouled on an attempt from behind the arc. 
• Georgian Court kept Dominican at arms length for the remainder of the half as the team's traded baskets. Jalen Bates knocked in a jumper with just over a minute left in the half as they were still up nine, but Dominican answered with a three and the Lions lead was trimmed to six, 35-29 at the half.
• The Lions went on a 5-0 run to start the second half, taking their largest lead, 40-29. After Dominican cut the lead back down, Cameron Edmonds brought the lead back to 11, 51-40, hitting a three-pointer and the and-one after being fouled on the attempt. 
• Dominican kept sticking around though and Georgian Court went cold. They were held scoreless for nearly five minutes while the Chargers took the lead. 
• Following a layup from Emmanuel Smith, the Chargers led by five, their largest of the game, 66-61 with just 39 seconds left. 
• That was all the time the Lions needed to tie the game. Shane Williams buried a corner three to cut the lead to two, 66-64. Jalen Bates then picked the pocket of Jaden Honis to get possession back. With less than 10 seconds left, the Chargers protected against the three, that left the lane open for Titus Beard who took the two points and sent the game to overtime.
• Georgian Court scored on their first possession of overtime, a layup from Clint Wright, Jr., but that would be all. They were scoreless the final 4:08 of the extra period.
• They were still in the game though as Dominican shot just 1-7 in overtime. They tied the game at the foul line with a pair of Javel Cherry free throws. While Georgian Court may have had the advantage in offensive rebounds throughout the game, the biggest one went to Dominican as Emmanuel Smith pulled down a board with 25 seconds left, dished to Honis who scored the go-ahead bucket.
• Georgian Court still had another full possession. Coming out of the timeout, the Lions couldn't get an open look. Bates threw up a prayer from behind the arc, but came up empty.

It Was Over When...
• Bates' three-point attempt as overtime expired wrapped up the game for the Lions. They couldn't find a shot on their final possession as the Charger defense held strong after getting the lead in OT.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Shane Williams led GCU scoring 14 points with seven rebounds.
• Jamaal Waters was a rebound shy of a double-double with 11 points and nine boards.
• Clint Wright, Jr. added 12 points with six rebounds.
• Jelani Jackson scored six points, all at the free throw line going 6-6.

For the Chargers
• Jaden Honis led four Chargers in double-figures with 16 points. 
• Emmanuel Smith added 14 points, nine rebounds.
• Justin Copman recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
• Ryan Conroy was 3-3 overall, 2-2 from three for eight points.

News and Notes
• Clint Wright, Jr. surpassed 800 career points.
• Jelani Jackson scored his 500th career point.
• The Lions 52 rebounds are a high-water mark this season. 
• At halftime, Georgian Court was presented with the NCAA Teamworks Service Challenge trophy, winning for Division II. 

Up Next
• Georgian Court will look to right the ship Wednesday, Feb. 8 as they take on Goldey-Beacom at the Wellness Center.