Georgia outlasts Xavier, 78-77, advances to championship in Charleston

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Junior guard Smurf Millender knocked down a late three-pointer to seal a Georgia (6-0) win over Xavier (3-3), 78-77, in the semifinals of the Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic on Friday night.

Fast Facts

• Blue Cain led all Bulldog scorers with 16 points. Smurf Millender had 12 points, and Dylan James had 10 points – matching his season high – to join Cain in double digits.
• Jeremiah Wilkinson grabbed a season-high six rebounds.
• Georgia weathered a late Musketeer seven-point surge and came from behind on its final offensive possession to take the lead on a Millender three-pointer.
• The Bulldogs out-rebounded Xavier, 43-42, while also leading as a team in fast break points, 15-8.
• The Georgia bench outscored the Musketeers’ bench, 39-4, the largest bench points total differential this season.

Up Next

The Bulldogs will face Clemson (5-1) in the Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic championship on Sunday after the Tigers’ 70-67 win over West Virginia before Georgia’s contest. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.