Tigers Continue To Make History; Take GCAA Crown; Down Ga. Highlands 87-76
CUTHBERT, Ga. -- It's official! The greatest team in Andrew College men's basketball history methodically took apart Georgia Highlands College on Saturday afternoon in the Jinks Gymnasium, winning 87-76, capturing the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) Regular Season title, and the #1 seed in the upcoming GCAA playoffs for the 1st time ever. In just the second season since being reinstated as a sport, with a first-time head coach, Justin Newton, the Tigers finish the regular season with a 23-7 overall record and a GCAA record of 11-5. The title puts Andrew in the enviable position of a #1 seed, will play the #8 seed Southern Crescent Tech on Tuesday, March 5th in the Jinks Gymnasium, and a win there, will result in the Tigers hosting the NJCAA Region 17 Div. I Men's Basketball Final Four next weekend in Cuthbert (March 8-9).
But first, the Tigers had to face the three-time defending GCAA regular seaon champion, Georgia Highlands College. The Chargers hadn't lost to any GCAA team twice in a season in almost four years. Andrew traveled to Rome in late January and shocked Highlands 68-62, and gave the first hint that the Tigers were a team to be reckoned with. Riding a five game winning streak entering Saturday's matchup, the Tigers crept out to a 39-31 halftime lead, survived a ferocious push to start the second half by Highlands, then closed out the game with an uncontested dunk by Jalin Wimberly and layup by Tim Williamson to capture their 1st GCAA crown.
Wimberly, again, paced the Tiger offense, pouring in 20 points, while dishing out 6 assists, Moses Jones put up 16 points, including 4 of 6-3pt attempts, Dereck Lampkin added 15 points and 6 rebounds, Kristian Collins turned in his fifth double-double of the season, scoring 13 points and pulling down 10 boards, and Jordan Booker came off the bench to drop 12 points and tied Wimberly with a team-high 6 assists.
Andrew will play in Jinks on Tuesday, as the #1 seed, taking on Southern Crescent Tech, in the 1st round of the GCAA playoffs. Tip off is 7:00 pm.