Georgia Basketball: Bulldogs Dominate Troy for Second Win
The Georgia basketball team notched their second win of the season by dominating the Troy Trojans.
Led by senor big men Nemi Djurisic with 17 points and Marcus Thornton who also scored 17 points for a career high, the Georgia Bulldog men’s basketball team (2-1) defeated the Troy Trojans (1-2) in a name-the- score game for the home Bulldogs, 82-60 in the Stegeman Coliseum.
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Georgia set the tone early, scoring 19 points in the first five and a half minutes for a 19 – 11 lead. Georgia substituted liberally throughout the game and despite 20 points from Troy freshman Wesley Person in 35 minutes of action, the outcome was never in doubt.
Juniors Charles Mann scored 14 points and led the Dawgs with eight rebounds and Kenny Gaines, starting for the first time this season, scored 12 points while contributing a solid defensive effort Person.
While Georgia shot 50% from the field for the game, the Dawgs gained the victory by dominating the Trojans inside, out rebounding Troy 43 – 33, outscoring Troy by 36 in the paint, outscoring Troy by 10 in second chance points, and by 10 in fast break points. Georgia also blocked nine shots – four by Gaines for a career high and three by Djurisic for a career high.
With the return of Kenny Gaines, Georgia was able to begin the game with the seasons expected starters, Mann, Gaines, Thornton, Djurisic and Juwan Parker. Off the bench early were Yante Maten, who snagged his first two career steals, and J. J. Frazier, who earned a career high five assists. Kenny Paul Geno appears to have established himself as the man to spell Juwan Parker at the shooting forward spot .
“I thought we played much harder tonight than we’ve been playing. I thought our defense was much better, especially for the first half,” head coach Mark Fox told Georgiadogs.com. “I don’t think we played quite as well defensively, or offensively for that matter, once we had a lead of any significance, but we certainly played more complete basketball tonight versus a well-coached, quick, athletic team who is going to win more than their fair share of games.”
Georgia eventually led Troy by 26 with just under three minutes to play. Shorty after, Coach Fox emptied the bench and Taylor Echols closed out the Bulldog scoring with a three pointer.
Bulldogs will face Florida Atlantic in Athens on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. The competition will stiffen considerably later in the week as the Dawgs face No. 13 Gonzaga next Wednesday in New York as part of the NIT Season Tip-Off. Georgia will face either Minnesota or St. John’s while in New York.