With five double-figure scorers, the No. 18-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College men's basketball team lit up the scoreboard for a 96-78 Homecoming victory over Bryan College (Tennessee) on Saturday night in the Convocation Center.
The Grizzlies (2-0) have scored 96 points in both of their home victories to start the 2026-27 season.
Sophomore
Mario Hill Jr. led the offensive outburst, making six of his first eight field goals, including two of three 3-pointers and his only free throw, to score 15 of his game-high 21 points in the first half.
Seven other GGC players contributed to the team's quick-strike offensive attack, which put the first 10 points on the scoreboard across the first two minutes and then pulled away for a 20-point edge for most of the opening 20 minutes. The hosts enjoyed a 49-33 halftime advantage.
The lead widened to 25 points, at 69-44, within the first five minutes of the second half and the visiting Lions couldn't get closer than 13 points in the final minutes.
Sophomore
Patrick Johnson shined on both ends of the court, scoring 19 points (on 6-of-9 field goals) while having a team-high 14 rebounds.
Other players accentuating the Grizzlies' offensive attack were senior
Jahiem Berry with 15 points and five assists, sophomore
Amari Morgan with 14 points (on 5-of-7 field goals and 1-of-1 3-pointers), and senior
Brasen James with 11 points (on 2-of-3 3-pointers).
Returning All-American senior
Devontre Chaney contributed 10 rebounds and a team-high seven assists.
Coach's Corner
"We strung together halfcourt stops defensively to start the game and that led us to get out to 10-0 lead and eventually 20-4. There were spurts where we were really good in the game, but there is a lot that we need to clean up. Mario (Hill Jr.) is becoming super steady and somebody that we know what you are going to get from him," said Head Coach
Chase Teichmann.
Turning Point
GGC set the stage early in the contest – on both ends of the floor. Consecutive 3-point field goals by guards
Jahiem Berry and
Mario Hill Jr. helped the team take a 10-0 advantage in the first two minutes of the contest. Meanwhile, the defense forced 10 first-half turnovers, had a 30-16 rebounding edge and held Bryan to making only 12 of its first 39 field goals (30.8%).
Inside The Numbers
- Sophomore Mario Hill Jr. scored 15 of his team-high 21 points in the first half; he made 6-of-8 field goals and 2-of-3 in 3-point field goals during the opening 20 minutes
- Sophomore Patrick Johnson had his first double-double performance of the season with 19 points and a team-high 14 rebounds
- GGC outrebounded its second straight opponent, this time holding a 53-41 edge
- The Grizzlies had 34 fastbreak points
News & Notes
- Georgia Gwinnett improves to 2-0 on the new season; Bryan dropped its season opener
- GGC was ranked No. 18 in the NAIA preseason Top 25 poll
- The Grizzlies' defensive pressure forced 12 steals which contributed in scoring 15 points off turnovers
- GGC has put 96 points on the scoreboard in both of its first two games of the 2026-27 season
Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host its third straight home game, playing Reinhardt University (Georgia) on Wednesday, October 28, in the Convocation Center, starting at 7:30 p.m.
