The Sports Xchange
Nov 24, 2017
Senior power forward Yante Maten scored 13 of his 15 points in the final 6 1/2 minutes to help Georgia notch a 64-57 victory over Cal State Fullerton in the opening round of the Wooden Legacy at Titan Gym in Fullerton, Calif.
Junior guard William Jackson II scored a career-high 16 points for the Bulldogs (4-0). Freshman forward Rayshaun Hammonds collected a season-best 12 rebounds for Georgia, which boasted a 39-21 rebounding edge.
The Bulldogs advance to meet either San Diego State or Sacramento State in a Friday semifinal.
Junior guard Kyle Allman Jr. scored a career-best 34 points for the Titans (1-3). Cal State Fullerton, which shot just 35.6 percent from the field, will meet the loser of the San Diego State-Sacramento State contest in the consolation side of the bracket.
The Bulldogs never led over the first 30-plus minutes, finally moving ahead 40-39 on a tip-in by freshman forward Nicolas Claxton with 9:41 remaining. Jackson, nicknamed "Turtle," followed with a speedy driving hoop to cap a 7-0 run and give Georgia a three-point lead.
Cal State Fullerton hoisted seven straight errant field-goal attempts until Allman connected on a 3-pointer to pull the Titans within 49-48 with 2:45 left. Maten responded with a three-point play and later hit a 3-pointer to give Georgia a 55-49 advantage with 1:40 to play.
The Bulldogs' lead reached 60-50 when Maten made two free throws with 48.5 seconds remaining.
Allman had already established a career high with his 14-point output in the first half, and the Titans led 27-21 at the break.
Fullerton never trailed in the half despite being outrebounded 24-10, but the Titans forced 11 turnovers and committed just four.
Allman delivered a highlight when he received an alley-oop pass from sophomore guard Jamal Smith and slammed it home to give Fullerton an 18-12 edge with 7:19 remaining.
Titans junior guard Austen Awosika drained a last-second 3-pointer to provide the six-point margin at the break.