BLUFFTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — The University of South Carolina Beaufort men's basketball team faced Georgia College & State University at home on Novant Health Court and controlled the game from start to finish, earning a dominant 100–57 victory. USCB's defensive effort held the Bobcats to just 24% shooting from the floor and forced 18 turnovers.
The Sand Sharks improved to 16–5 on the season and 10–3 in Peach Belt Conference play, while GCSU fell to 13–8 overall with an 8–5 conference record.
USCB was led in scoring by Qurahn Anderson, who finished with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, along with four rebounds and two assists. Anderson was one of four Sand Sharks to score in double figures, joined by Evan Kilminster with 17 points, six rebounds, and eight assists. Kevaughn Price added 15 points, and Aiden Fitzgerald chipped in 12. Twelve different Sand Sharks scored in the victory.
USC Beaufort set the tone from the opening tip, as Kilminster scored the first basket of the game on a driving layup to give USCB an early 2–0 lead. The Sand Sharks opened on an 8–0 run, with Nolan Paladugu and Anderson adding three points apiece. USCB's defense held the Bobcats scoreless for the first four minutes before GCSU connected on a three-pointer to get on the board.
Dylan Lewis scored his first points of the game with a dunk to stop a five-point run by the Bobcats. That basket sparked back-to-back dunks by Lewis, as the Sand Sharks led 12–7 nine minutes into the game.
USCB continued to capitalize on scoring opportunities, extending the lead with a layup and a dunk. The Sand Sharks reached a double-digit lead for the first time after a Kilminster three-pointer, assisted by Paladugu, made it 23–12 with six minutes remaining in the half.
A 14–0 run stretched USCB's lead to 32–12 following a 6-of-7 shooting stretch over three minutes, including two three-pointers. The Sand Sharks forced two turnovers and held GCSU to 0-for-4 shooting during the run. Seth Cullen knocked down a late basket to keep control of the 20 point lead at the time.
USCB led 35–16 at the break after holding the Bobcats to just 14.7% shooting in the first half, with GCSU making only five field goals.
Kilminster pushed the lead back to 20 early in the second half as the teams traded three-pointers, making the score 39–19. The Sand Sharks maintained control before extending the lead to 25 on a Price three-pointer, giving USCB a 54–29 advantage — the largest margin of the game at that point.
A 13–1 run followed, highlighted by five points from Paladugu, as the Sand Sharks shot a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor, including three three-pointers. USCB forced two more turnovers and built a commanding 59–29 lead. Halfway through the second half, the Sand Sharks led by 33 after a three-point play by Price, giving him 15 points on the night.
Anderson later extended the lead to 41 after a steal by Cullen led to a fast-break dunk, pushing the score to 79–38. USCB's largest lead of the game reached 45 points at 100–55. The Sand Sharks sealed the 100–57 victory following GCSU's final basket.
USCB scored 46 bench points in the win and converted 23 points off the Bobcats' 18 turnovers. The 57 points is the lowest point total allowed this season by the Sand Sharks.
The Sand Sharks will return home Saturday afternoon to face Middle Georgia State University at 3:30 p.m. at the Cove on Novant Health Court.
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