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Crump's career-high leads Dogs past Texas Southern

By The Associated Press
Posted 10:11PM on Monday 3rd December 2018 ( 5 years ago )

ATHENS — Tyree Crump scored a career-high 25 points, Nicolas Claxton added 15 points and nine rebounds, and Georgia had little trouble beating Texas Southern 92-75 on Monday night.

Derek Ogbeide added 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Rayshaun Hammonds finished with 14 points to help the Bulldogs (5-3) win their second straight.

Derrick Bruce scored 17 points, and Jeremy Combs added 15 or Texas Southern (3-6). The Tigers have dropped two in a row against Power 5 conference opponents since upsetting then-No. 18 Oregon last week.

Crump's straightaway 3-pointer gave the Bulldogs their first 20-point lead midway through the second half and he added his career-best fifth trey to make it 81-66 at the 4:56 mark.

Georgia looked sharp throughout as first-year coach Tom Crean tries to move his team past disappointing performances last month in losing consecutive games to Clemson and Georgia State.

Claxton and Jordan Harris each hit two of the Bulldogs' 11 3-pointers, but it was Georgia's front line that made the biggest difference. With 6-foot-11 Claxton, 6-9 Ogbeide and 6-8 Hammonds collapsing on Trayvon Reed, Texas Southern's 7-2 center wasn't the same force that scored 23 points and had nine dunks in the Oregon win.

Reed finished with 14 points and seven rebounds, but he was outmatched midway through the second. Claxton was defending Reed tightly enough that he couldn't pivot and decided to feed Devocio Butler for a layup. Claxton turned toward the basket to swat Butler's shot away and begin Hammonds' drive down the floor for a quick 3 that made it 59-42.

BIG PICTURE

First-year coach Johnny Jones has put Texas Southern through a tough early schedule with trips to Baylor, Gonzaga, Iowa State and San Diego State. Facing tough competition will likely help the Tigers when their Southwestern Athletic Conference schedule tips off next month, but they will need Reed to be at his best if they are to advance to the NCAA tournament for the fifth time in the last six seasons. He wasn't a force at Arizona State after picking up two fouls in the first 93 seconds.

Crean was pleased to watch his team not let up in the second half to keep Texas Southern from making a run. Georgia took the lead for good midway through the first on Harris' 3, beginning a 33-15 run that ended on Teshaun Hightower's 3 at the 1:59 mark. The Bulldogs led 52-35 at halftime and were never threatened in the final 20 minutes.

UP NEXT

Texas Southern: Hosts Concordia on Saturday.

Georgia: Hosts Arizona State on Dec. 15.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2018/12/740847/crumps-career-high-leads-dogs-past-texas-southern

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