Marcus “Smurf” Millender came off the bench to lead a balanced attack with 14 points and help No. 23 Georgia beat Long Island 89-74 to extend its winning streak to six games on Monday in Athens, Ga.
The Bulldogs entered the game averaging 99.8 points, No. 1 in the nation, and winning by an average of 28 points, but trailed by as many as 11 points in the first half before outscoring Long Island 48-30 in the second half.
Millender was 4-for-9 from the field – including three 3-pointers — and six assists for Georgia (12-1). Reserve Justin Bailey scored 13 and Blue Cain added 12 for the Bulldogs.
Long Island (6-7) was led by Greg Gordon with 20 points and six rebounds, Jamal Fuller with 18 points and Malachi Davis with 15 points.
Long Island scored the first six points of the game and built a seven-point lead on a dunk by Isaiah Miranda to give the Sharks a 24-17 lead at 12:10.
Georgia responded with a 10-3 run, tying the game at 27 when Somto Cyril made one of two free throws at 7:48. But Long Island bounced back to go on an 11-0 run and took a 38-27 lead on Faheim Meran’s layup at 4:26. Georgia was 0-for-6 with three turnovers during that stretch.
Georgia outscored the Sharks 12-5 with three 3-pointers to cut Long Island’s advantage to 44-41 at halftime.
The Bulldogs took their first lead when Bailey drained a 3-pointer to make it 48-47 with 16:25 remaining. Millender followed with a 3-pointer as the shot clock was about to expire and Georgia went on to complete a 13-0 run on Jake Wilkins’ finger roll to take a 56-47 lead at 12:31. Long Island, which shot 53.1% in the first half, cooled off and made only 1 of 14 to start the half.
The Sharks got as close as three points at 62-59, but the Bulldogs answered with back-to-back jumpers to spark an 11-4 run and to restore the 10-point lead.
Georgia improved to 36-0 at home against nonconference opponents in coach Mike White’s four seasons.
