Georgia gets hot from distance, thumps Tennessee Tech

Georgia made 21 shots from 3-point range and rode a 62-point first half to an easy 123-81 win over Tennessee Tech on Saturday at Athens, Ga.

The Bulldogs topped 100 points for the third time by scoring the program's most points since a 124-65 win on November 28, 1990, over Western Kentucky.

Reserve transfer Marcus Millender celebrated his 21st birthday by scoring 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting for Georgia (7-1), including 4 of 6 from 3-point range. Jeremiah Wilkerson contributed 20 points with five assists and five 3-pointers, while Kanon Catchings notched 17 points with three 3-pointers

Justin Bailey tallied 15 points for the Bulldogs, while Blue Cain and Jordan Ross each added 12 points.

Mekhi Turner led Tennessee Tech (3-5) with 16 points and six rebounds. Ty Owens contributed 15 points while going 6 of 6 from the field and JaJuan Nichols added 13 points.

C.J. McPherson notched 12 points off the bench for the Golden Eagles, who were just 3 of 17 (17.6%) from 3-point range.

Georgia jumped out to an 11-0 lead in the game's first two minutes in an opening run that included a pair of 3-pointers from Catchings, Somto Cyril added a follow-up dunk.

Tennessee Tech hung around and found itself within 24-17 on a Mekhi Cameron jumper with 9:20 left in the half. But Georgia finished the half on a 38-19 run to take control. The Bulldogs stretched their lead to as many as 47 points late in the second half.

Georgia was shooting just 26.5% from 3-point range before Saturday and had only made a double-digit 3-pointers once on the season when they made 17 in a 120-81 win over Morehead State.

The Bulldogs finished 21 of 43 (48.8%) from long range.

--Field Level Media