The South Georgia State College Hawks outscored the Andrew College Fighting Tigers 23-6 in the first seven minutes of the second half and cruised into the GCAA semifinals with a 97-60 win Tuesday night in Waycross.
Four SGSC players scored in double figures, led by Devon Rainey with 17 points, five rebounds, and seven assists. Chandler Thomas finished with 14 points and six rebounds, followed by Justin McCarter with 13 points and seven rebounds. Ashton Pennamon had 12 points, four rebounds, and a total of 14 assists for the game.
As a team, SGSC shot 60.3 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from the three-point line. The Hawks held the Fighting Tigers to 33 percent shooting and forced a total of 16 turnovers.
SGSC clinched the regular season championship and the top seed in the GCAA tournament this past Saturday. Tuesday night’s win secures home court advantage for the Hawks for the remainder of the tournament as both the semifinals and championship game will be played in Waycross this Friday and Saturday.
The first semifinal game will feature (3) Gordon State vs. (7) East Georgia State Friday at 6 p.m. followed by (1) SGSC vs. (5) Georgia Highlands at 8 p.m.
The two semifinal winners will meet Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. for the GCAA Championship and an automatic berth into the NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament later this month in Hutchinson, Kan.
More information regarding ticket prices for this weekend’s tournament games will be announced by SGSC at a later date.