Macon, Ga – The No. 2 Titans (22-7 overall) defeated No. 7 South Georgia State College, 74-68, Tuesday night to advance to the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) Division I Men's Basketball Semifinal round.
In a win-or-go-home matchup, the Titans came out firing on all cylinders with a balanced offensive attack against East Georgia State. Within the first few minutes of the game, sophomores Evins Desir and Anyeuri Castillo went 4-4 from the charity stripe, and sophomore guard Ijon Owens knocked down two crowd-pleasing three point baskets.
Sophomore Juvante Hayes came up big for the Titans, finishing with a game-high 18 points. Hayes shot 6-10 from the field and 4-6 from beyond the three point arc.
The most impressive facet of the Titans' offense was their free throw shooting and scoring contributions from the bench. Making a living off free throws, the Titans finished the night 30-36 from the line. The Titans' bench accounted for 33 of the team's 74 points.
Also scoring in double digits for the Titans were Evins Desir, 11 points, five rebounds, and two blocks, and Aaron Ridley III, 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
The Titans will face No. 6 East Georgia State College in the GCAA Semifinals on Friday, March 8 at 5:30 p.m. The game will take place at host Andrew College in Cuthbert, and will be streamed live on the GCAA Sports Network.
