AMERICUS, GEORGIA – The University of South Carolina Beaufort men's basketball team went on the road Wednesday evening for a conference matchup against Georgia Southwestern State jumping out to an early lead following a fast 14-1 start, leading to a 95–74 victory.
The Sand Sharks jumped out quickly, setting the tone early and controlling the game from start to finish. With the win, USCB improves to 12–4 overall and 6–3 in conference play, while Georgia Southwestern falls to 11–5 overall and 4–4 in the PBC.
Evan Kilminster led the team with 16 points one of five players scoring double figures joined by Dominic Eason and Ismail Rashid with 13 points each. The final two were Nolan Paladugu with 12 points and Kevaughn Price at 11 points. Eason led the team with nine rebounds.
Evan Kilminster opened the scoring with a three-pointer assisted by Nolan Paladugu, and Dominic Eason followed with a layup off a Dylan Lewis steal. Eason then knocked down a three-pointer as part of five straight points, helping USCB race out to a 14–1 lead in the opening three minutes. Kilminster and Eason each scored five early points as the Sand Sharks' defense held the Hurricanes without a made shot while forcing four turnovers.
Five minutes into the half, USCB maintained a double-digit lead as Paladugu hit a turnaround jumper to make it 19–6. Georgia Southwestern responded with a 6–0 run, but the Sand Sharks answered. Hudson Norton completed a three-point play off an offensive rebound to extend the lead to 31–19, and Eason later drained his second three of the half to push the advantage to 36–21. Eason finished the half with 10 points.
USCB continued to control the pace, taking a 44–29 lead after points from Ismail Rashid. Qurahn Anderson closed the half with a dunk in the final minute, sending the Sand Sharks into halftime up 46–33.
The Sand Sharks picked up where they left off in the second half, as Price scored the first basket on a driving layup assisted by Paladugu. Kilminster and Price then hit back-to-back three-pointers to extend the lead to 54–36. Shea Champine and Rashid combined for five straight points, pushing the lead to 62–42 after a Seth Cullen steal for the lead reaching 20 points.
USCB maintained a comfortable margin throughout the half. Georgia Southwestern cut the lead to 14 late, but Price and Eason responded to end the run. A Dylan Lewis dunk off a Rashid assist pushed the lead back to 21 points at 89–68. The Sand Sharks stretched the advantage to as many as 24 points before closing out the 95–74 win.
USCB assisted on 18 of 32 made field goals, shot 50 percent from three-point range, and forced 12 turnovers on the defensive end.
The Sand Sharks return home Saturday afternoon to host North Georgia in a White Out game, tipping off at 3:30 p.m.
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