The GCSU men’s and women’s basketball teams celebrated Homecoming on Saturday, Feb. 22 inside the Centennial Center. They both faced Georgia Southwestern State University in Peach Belt Conference matchups.
The Bobcats played in front of their biggest crowds of the year, with over 3,000 people in attendance.
The women’s basketball team faced off against the Hurricanes at 3:30 p.m. Both teams started hot, as they traded leads three times throughout the first quarter.
Graduate student guard Evie DePetro gave GCSU its first lead of the day, as a three-pointer fell through the hoop early. Nevertheless, the Hurricanes sparked momentum, dropping six points in response via two jump shots and a layup.
The Bobcats rallied back in the final few minutes, as junior guard/forward Miracle Parker collected a three-pointer and sophomore guard Hannah Cail accumulated a pair of jump shots to give the Bobcats a 15-13 lead after the first 10 minutes.
Georgia Southwestern stormed back for a lead at the opening of the second quarter, but a shift in momentum caused by a three-pointer from Cail rallied the Bobcats. Senior guard Ashyaa Willis and senior center Camryn James added a jumper and layup, respectively, and junior guard Deshona Gaither capped it off with a fastbreak three-pointer to increase the lead to seven.
Neither team let up in the third quarter, as the Hurricanes attempted their comeback and would not let GCSU add to the lead to put things out of reach.
Sophomore guard Nylah Nuri sent through a three-pointer at the 2:49 mark to increase the lead to five, the first time it was over three the entire quarter, but Georgia Southwestern responded with a three-pointer of their own to keep the deficit at two heading into the final quarter.
“I think that we all played well,” Nuri said. “How everyone played allowed me to get the shots that I could get.”
Consecutive three-pointers from Nuri and Parker led off the fourth quarter, increasing the lead to eight, but a three-pointer and a tip-in from the Hurricanes answered back against the GCSU lead.
However, another three-pointer from Cail shifted the momentum just enough, and a tip-in from senior forward Jada Warren and free throws from Willis were the nail in the coffin for Georgia Southwestern, as the women’s basketball team finished the job, winning 65-58.
“It started on the defense and rebounding,” said head coach Ross Jolly. “We only had eight turnovers for the game. I thought we were pretty locked in. It was just a really good team win.”
Cail and Parker led the Bobcats in points with 14, Warren in rebounds with 16, and Willis in assists with seven. The Bobcats climbed to a record of 16-10 following the game.
The men’s basketball game followed shortly after, beginning at 5:30.
Both teams started at a deadlock, as sophomore forward James Nichols III and sophomore guard Aidan Kudlas led off the nightcap with a pair of layups.
Still, the Hurricanes battled back and scored eight consecutive.
Junior guard Zyair Greene knocked down his first three-pointer of the night and followed up with a free throw to tie things at eight. A pair of three-pointers from the Hurricanes at the halfway mark of the first half changed the momentum, and Georgia Southwestern continued to pad its lead as the remainder of the first half marched on.
Greene put up consecutive three-pointers with 4:09 remaining in the half, but GCSU entered the locker room with a nine-point deficit, 35-26.
Georgia Southwestern started the second half with a jumper and three-pointer, respectively. However, Greene and sophomore forward Oscar Lynch answered back with a jumper and three-pointer of their own.
The Hurricanes kept the lead around the double-digit mark for most of the second half, until three three-pointers from Lynch, all on consecutive trips, brought down the deficit to six.
Freshman guard Khalil Green added a three-pointer minutes later, and the Bobcats attempted to take a stab at returning the momentum. GCSU used a couple of sets of free throws to keep the deficit stagnant, and Green knocked down another three-pointer to cut it even more.
Kudlas scored a layup to tie the game at 68, and Greene threw up a three-pointer to complete the comeback. However, the Bobcats could not pad their lead enough, and an old-fashioned three-pointer from the Hurricanes tied the game at 73 with 1:27 remaining.
Neither team could finish it in regulation, and Bobcat fans had free basketball on Homecoming.
Georgia Southwestern started the overtime period sharp, leading off with free throws and a three-pointer to take a quick five-point lead.
The Hurricanes added on to increase the lead to eight, but Lynch and Greene cut it back down to four. A late-minute three-pointer from freshman forward Mason Etter put the game at 90-87 with 0:17 remaining.
The Bobcats regained control of the ball, and with one second remaining, Green threw up a prayer, but it was not answered.
“Proud of the guys for coming back,” said Ryan Aquino, head coach of GCSU men’s basketball. “Just a slow start offensively. That’s always on the coach to not get the guys ready and put them in the right spots.”
Greene’s 28 points led the Bobcats, followed by Lynch with 18, and Kudlas and Dallas Clayton with 11.
Lynch also collected a double-double, leading the Bobcats with 13 rebounds. Kudlas accumulated six assists.
The Bobcats fell to 9-17 following the game.
“I feel like I played okay,” Greene said. “I got to figure out a way to be better. We came out with the loss and we continue to lose these close games.”
Both teams battle Columbus State University for the final game of the season. The men’s team must win against the No. 1 Cougars for a spot in the playoffs.