The GC men’s basketball team hosted 3-23 Clayton State for their homecoming game on Saturday, Feb. 18. 

Coming off four straight losses, the Bobcats looked to get a big win in front of the larger homecoming crowd.

Despite multiple lead changes throughout the game, the Bobcats would stay strong and eventually come away with a needed victory, 71-68.

With the Bobcats still missing key players in sophomore guards Zyair Greene and Luke Chism, the short-staffed team had some key players step up in the victory.

Freshman guard Brenden Rigsbee continued his breakout season, leading the Bobcats with 24 points and seven rebounds. Rigsbee is embracing the lead role and, despite his age, he has shown great leadership to the team.

“My teammates and coach just keep putting their trust in me, and that really means a lot to me,” Rigsbee said. “The last thing I want to do is let them down, so I am going to keep working at it.”

Rigsbee had a successful night from the charity stripe, going 11 for 12 at the line.

The Bobcats have struggled throughout the season at the free-throw line. However, they earned many trips to the line against the Lakers, shooting 26 and making 20.

The Bobcats shot the ball extremely well throughout the game, shooting 40.7% from the field.

Freshman guard Ian Davis took part in the good shooting night, going four for seven from the field along with shooting seven for eight from the free throw line. He also pulled in six rebounds.

“I started off the game slow,” Davis said. “But then in the second half, I was able to get to the free throw line a lot, and that really helped out my confidence, which led to me making a couple of shots.”

Davis has really stepped up this year when the Bobcats needed it and embraced a larger-than-expected role as a freshman.

There was a little extra pressure on the Bobcats during this game, and that was due to it being homecoming night. The stands were packed, and the team put on a show in what was a game that could have gone either way.

“I’m just really proud of the guys because I could tell how bad they wanted this win,” said head coach Ryan Aquino. “They really fought for it when they could have just let off the gas, but they kept going.”

As the large crowd cheered on throughout the game, the Bobcats tried their best to put on a show and give the fans a reason to come back.

Some of the highlight plays were an Austin Sloan dunk and a Brenden Risgbee chasedown block that got the crowd on their feet.

With only two games left in the regular season, the Bobcats are looking to finish off the season strong and end on a high note.

The Bobcats are back in action Wednesday, Feb. 22, in the Centennial Center to take on Flagler College for senior night.