No. 25 Georgia and the nation’s highest-scoring offense put up big numbers again in a 112-82 win over outmatched Western Carolina Thursday night in Athens, Ga.
Georgia exceeded the 100-point mark for the fifth time this season. That ties a program single-season record set in the 1990-91 season.
Jeremiah Wilkinson led all scorers with 26 points, including four 3-pointers. Marcus “Smurf” Millender had 17 for Georgia and Somto Cyril, playing in a black mask to protect a broken nose, had a career-high 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Bulldogs (10-1) never trailed. Ten different Bulldogs scored and 11 played more than 10 minutes.
Georgia shot 59.3% from the floor and was 11-for-22 from 3-point range.
Western Carolina (4-7) got a team-high 14 points from Georgia native CJ Hyland and 13 points apiece from Justin Johnson and Marcus Kell.
Entering the night averaging a tick above 98 points per game, the Bulldogs had 10 points in the first 2:30 of the game.
After Western Carolina cut its deficit to 15-10 on a jumper by Johnson, Blue Cain drained a three from the wing for Georgia, Justin Bailey scored on a baseline drive, Cain scored again in the lane and Millender hit a jumper from the elbow for a 9-0 Georgia run that took just more than two minutes of game time and erased any doubt in the outcome.
The Bulldogs’ offense had more highlight plays in the first half. Jake Wilkins came soaring in on a fastbreak dunk to make it 33-17, Millender sank a three with his back foot on the Georgia logo at midcourt to make it 39-23 and Cyril had an unusual three-point play late in the half. Cyril made a free throw, missed the second and Wilkins swatted at the rebound — sending it back to Cyril, who stormed down the lane for a monster two-hand jam.
The first-half lead grew as big as 20, but Western Carolina scored the final six points of the first half — getting two buckets from Johnson, including a nifty steal and dunk — to make it 54-40 at the halftime break.
Georgia started the second half with a tremendous dunk by Kanon Catchings and the Bulldogs kept on attacking. Wilkinson scored 12 points on three 3-pointers and a trio of free throws in a 2:01 span to make the lead 96-67 with 6:41 left.
