Dawgs Win Opener

BASKETBALL

Dustin Ware and Jeremy Price scored 14 points apiece as Georgia opened a big early lead and cruised to an 85-48 win over Augusta State in its only exhibition basketball game here Thursday night.

Georgia had little trouble with its Division II opponent, despite playing with its top returning scorer and rebounder, junior Trey Thompkins. The SEC’s pre-season Player of the Year sprained his right ankle in practice last Saturday and watched from the bench as his teammates played their final pre-season tune-up.

The Dawgs scored the first 11 points of the game and trailed by single digits just once thereafter. Ware got the scoring started with a 3-pointer on Georgia’s first possession. Price followed a minute later on a put back dunk. Ware and guard Gerald Robinson completed the game-opening run with back-to-back 3-pointers.

“It was nice to get the win and to be able to play a lot of guys who are getting their first taste of what it’s like to play at this level,” Georgia head coach Mark Fox said. “Without Trey on the floor, we’re sort of having to reinvent ourselves. I saw a lot of good things out there, but certainly a lot of things we need to clean up before the season opener.”

Just six minutes into the game, Chris Barnes gave Georgia its first 20-point lead on a dunk that pushed the score to 22-2. Even with a 7-point ASU run that followed, the Dawgs widened the margin to 44-22 by halftime.

Robinson, playing in his first action since transferring from Tennessee State, was the offensive star for Georgia. He scored 12 points but added 10 assists in just 20 minutes, often on entertaining drives and passes.

“It was very exciting to be back on the court,” Robinson said. “It’s been a long, long year of waiting. In the back of my mind, I just knew this was what I’ve been waiting for this whole time. I’m ready to take advantage of it.”

The Dawgs return to the practice court before opening the regular season next Friday, Nov. 12 against Mississippi Valley State in Athens at 7:30 p.m.