MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA – The University of South Carolina Beaufort men's basketball team closed out the 2025 portion of the schedule with a Wednesday morning game on the road. Georgia College & State University used a strong second-half performance to rally past the Sand Sharks, 84–80.
USCB had three players scoring in double figures, led by Ismail Rashid with 19 points and seven rebounds. Dominic Eason and Qurahn Anderson each added 14 points in the loss.
Georgia College struck first, scoring the opening four points of the game. Israel Eatman connected on the Sand Sharks' first basket off an assist from Eason, and Rashid followed by knocking down a three-pointer, assisted by Hudson Norton, to cut the deficit to 8–5.
The Sand Sharks responded with a 10–0 run over a two-minute stretch, shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor while forcing two turnovers. Rashid sparked the run by answering a Bobcats basket, as Anderson converted a layup off a GCSU turnover to give USCB its first lead at 12–10. Evan Kilminster later buried a three-pointer off another turnover to extend the advantage to 17–10.
After a Bobcats three-pointer ended the run, Nolan Paladugu answered with a triple of his own to keep momentum on USCB's side. Near the midway point of the half, the Sand Sharks pushed the lead into double digits for the first time on an Eason layup following an Anderson steal.
USCB's defense continued strong pressure, holding Georgia College without a made shot for more than two minutes. Kilminster's second steal of the half led to a layup and a 29–17 advantage. After USCB built a 31–19 lead, the Bobcats answered with an 8–0 run to close the gap to 31–27 before Rashid stopped their momentum with a second-chance basket off an offensive rebound.
The Sand Sharks closed the half with an 11–1 run over the final five minutes, opening up a 15-point lead. Eason scored five points during the stretch as the USCB defense limited the Bobcats to 0-for-4 shooting and forced two turnovers.
USCB carried a 47–32 lead into halftime, with Rashid scoring 11 first-half points. The Sand Sharks forced 13 turnovers, including nine steals, and converted them into 19 points.
Georgia College came out firing in the second half, opening with a 12–0 run in the first three minutes to cut the lead to 47–44. Rashid stopped the run with a jumper, but the Bobcats continued to chip away, pulling within one at 52–51 with 14 minutes remaining and eventually tying the game at 57–57 on an offensive rebound put back layup.
After several ties, Rashid briefly put USCB back in front with a three-pointer, but Georgia College answered with a 7–0 run to take a 66–62 lead with 7:11 remaining. Rashid ended the run with a three-point play, and Anderson later converted a basket to pull the Sand Sharks within one at 71–70.
A three-pointer by CJ Jones gave the Bobcats the lead answering those points for 74-70 lead, as Georgia College held on down the stretch to secure the 84–80 victory.
The Sand Sharks will now break for the holidays and return to action on January 3rd, traveling to Clayton State for a 3:30 p.m. tip-off.
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