ATHENS, Ga. (Nov. 27, 2022) – The (3-3) ETSU men’s basketball team lost their third straight game following a closely contested first half that turned into a one-sided (4-2) Georgia Bulldogs victory in the second half of play with a final score of 62-47.
ETSU looked to give the Power-5 team a run for their money as the Bucs traded the lead with Georgia throughout the first half, with both teams going on double-digit runs before the Bulldogs took a four-point lead into the break.
Missing two key players in DeAnthony Tipler (Ashland, Miss.) and Brock Jancek (Knoxville, Tenn.), the Bucs were unable to match the energy and pace of Georgia’s rotation in the closing half of the game. Georgia’s explosive offense quickly turned the match into a game of catch-up just as the Bucs tied 36-36 early in the second half of play. In less than three minutes of gameplay, the Bulldogs would go on a 12-0 run to make the score 48-36.
The lead would be maintained by the Bulldogs’ defense that locked the Bucs down as they struggled to put points on the board in the game’s closing minutes. The Bucs were held to 21 points in the second half and only 11 points in the final 15:38 of play.
The Bucs were led on offense by Jalen Haynes (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla) and his game-leading 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting and was followed by Jordan King (Albany, N.Y.) and his 14 points. King also added five rebounds and three assists.
Looking forward, the Bucs (3-4) will have the homecourt advantage at Freedom Hall for their next two games, when the team takes on the Mars Hill Lions (2-4) team that has lost four consecutive games on Nov. 30 and again on Dec. 3 when the Bucs face the Jacksonville State Gamecocks (3-4). Tip-off for that game is scheduled for 4 p.m.
For more information on the ETSU men’s basketball team, visit ETSUBucs.com/mbasketball.
