Georgia will visit Cincinnati for a nonconference basketball game on Saturday between teams looking to sustain their momentum after season-opening wins.
The Bulldogs overcame a five-point halftime deficit to post a 58-51 win over visiting Florida International on Tuesday behind a balanced scoring attack and superior rebounding.
Gonzaga transfer Aaron Cook had 10 points, eight assists and six rebounds, while Braelen Bridges, Kario Oquendo and Jaxon Etter each scored nine points for Georgia.
The Bulldogs outrebounded the Panthers 46-36 to overshadow an offensive performance in which Georgia shot 35.1 percent (20-for-57) from the floor, including an abysmal 20 percent (3-for-15) from beyond the arc.
“Our shooting will get better, but (Tuesday) it was our defense,” Georgia coach Tom Crean said. “It was our rebounding. They are a very good team, a very good 3-point shooting team. Our guys, for the most part, did a pretty good job of the adjustments we were trying to make to guard them over the last few days.”
Cincinnati had a much easier time in its 65-43 rout of visiting Evansville that gave new coach Wes Miller his first win on Tuesday.
Jeremiah Davenport posted 11 points and eight rebounds while David DeJulius added nine points, seven rebounds and seven assists for Cincinnati. Viktor Lakhin registered seven points and seven boards off the bench for the Bearcats, who led 31-22 at the half and never looked back.
Miller was unsure if the same five Bearcats who started against the Purple Aces would take the court for the opening tip against the Bulldogs.
“It’s going to take time,” Miller said. “We’ll take a look at the film. I never make rash judgements after games. I try to get back and look at the film. We’ll grade it … and then we’ll sit there and tinker with it. I’d be surprised if we don’t have a solid rotation that’s set in stone until January. I mean, it wouldn’t surprise me if it takes that long.”
Georgia defeated visiting Cincinnati 83-68 last year. However, the Bulldogs are an entirely different team this season considering they lost all five starters and several key reserves. Players who scored 77 of the 83 points against the Bearcats are not longer on the roster.
Meantime, the Bearcats return three players who logged at least 23 minutes against Georgia last season, Davenport (18 points), DeJulius (seven points) and Mika Adams-Woods (eight points).
–Field Level Media
