Georgia pulls away from Robert Morris
Georgia wrapped up its non-conference schedule Tuesday night with a 79-67 win over Robert Morris.
Georgia started the game up 6-0, before Robert Morris tied the game at 6 at the 15-minute mark of the first half.
Freshman guard Turtle Jackson entered and drilled a 3-pointer on his first shot of the game, which gave Georgia an eight-point lead. A few possessions later, he added a steal that developed into a Mike Edwards basket and a 16-6 Georgia lead before the 10-minute mark in the first half.
Robert Morris pulled to within five points of Georgia at the start of the second half but never found a consistent stroke. A four-minute scoring drought began seven minutes into the half as Robert Morris turned the ball over twice during that stretch and shot a couple of reckless 3-pointers, struggling to get good looks underneath. A Houston Kessler dunk forced a Robert Morris timeout and stretched Georgia's lead back to a comfortable 10 points.
Georgia shot 54 percent to Robert Morris' 34 percent. The Bulldogs were led in scoring by forward Yante Maten with 20 points and guard J.J. Frazier with 17 points and four 3-pointers. Maten and Derek Ogbeide both pulled in seven rebounds.
THREE WHO MATTERED
Ogbeide: As Ogbeide sees his minutes per game slowly increase, so do his contributions on the glass. The freshman forward logged 13 minutes and pulled in seven rebounds. Jackson played 19 minutes for Georgia, shooting 1-for-2 from the floor, both 3.
Maten: He led Georgia in scoring and shot 8-for-15 from the floor with seven rebounds.
Frazier: He found a solid stroke beyond the arch, shooting 4-for-5 from 3-point range.
TURNING POINT
With the first half winding down, Jackson sent an outlet pass to Frazier, who shot a 3-pointer off a quick release. Frazier drained the basket in addition to drawing contact. Georgia led 38-27 at the half after completing the four-point play.
OBSERVATIONS
Leadoff 3: Jackson, Georgia's freshman guard, entered the game to a round of applause and proceeded to knock down a 3-pointer on his first shot.
Spread the contact: By the end of the first half 10 of the 11 Georgia players who played in the first half had a foul, but Kenny Gaines was the only player with more than one (two).
Keeping things fresh: Head coach Mark Fox went with some young lineups Tuesday night. Several freshman players saw double-digit minutes.
Struggles beyond the arch: Robert Morris threw up 24 3-pointers and only made three.
WORTH MENTIONING
KPG, adding assistance: Georgia forward Kenny Paul Geno had seven assists to hi, raising his total to 25 for the season, third on the team.
A team effort: A late layup from Georgia forward Osahen Iduwe made him the 11th Georgia player to score in the game. Georgia’s 38 points in the first half came from nine different players.
Streaking into Gainesville: Georgia is riding a four-game winning streak heading into SEC play. All four wins came a home by double digits. Georgia’s last loss was to Kansas State on Dec. 4. Georgia lost its only road game to Seton Hall, 69-62.
Maten and Frazier make it seven: Georgia’s two leading scorers both cashed in their seventh double-digit scoring efforts of the season. It was Maten’s 12th double-digit game of his UGA career and Frazier’s 25th.
THEY SAID IT
Fox on Georgia’s defense: “We were bigger than they were. They are not a team that runs a lot of things in the post. We felt like if we could guard the 3-point line that we would be able to play from the front.”
Frazier on Jackson’s growth: “There is a learning curve. It’s been a bumpy road for him, he’s still learning. When he’s in the game with me, every time I kick it to him I tell him to shoot it because he can shoot the ball. I just want to instill confidence in him.”
Ogbeide on his growing comfort as a freshman: “I did feel more comfortable compared to other games. The minutes fluctuating, I don’t really keep track of, but I just try to grab them for my team when I can. But I felt good.”
WHAT'S NEXT?
Georgia opens SEC play Saturday against Florida in Gainesville.
This story was originally published December 29, 2015 at 9:27 PM with the headline "Georgia pulls away from Robert Morris."