MERCER

UGA

Preview not available

Melendez sparks Georgia to an 80-69 victory over Mercer

AP
Dec 01, 2023

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) RJ Melendez scored 14 of his 18 points in the first half and Georgia cruised to an 80-69 victory over Mercer on Friday night.

Melendez made 5 of 8 shots with two 3-pointers for Georgia (5-3). His first-half effort led the Bulldogs to a 44-31 advantage. The Bulldogs shot 68% from the floor (13 for 19), made 5 of 7 from beyond the arc and 13 of 18 at the free-throw line before halftime.

Freshman Silas Demary Jr. and Jabri Abdur-Rahim scored 13 points apiece for Georgia with Demary adding seven rebounds. Reserve Justin Hill scored 11. Russel Tchewa pitched in with 10 points and eight rebounds.

Jalyn McCreary scored 15 points with four steals to pace the Bears (2-5). Freshman reserves Jake Davis and David Thomas scored 13 and 11, respectively. Jah Quinones totaled 10 points, seven assists and five boards.

Abdur-Rahim sank two free throws with 9:57 left in the first half to give Georgia a 20-18 lead and the Bulldogs never trailed again. Mercer got no closer than nine in the second half.

Georgia improves to 17-4 at home since Mike White took over the program last season. The Bulldogs were coming off a 68-66 victory over Florida State in the ACC/SEC Challenge, overcoming a 17-point deficit in the final 6:37.

The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 56-23, including a 35-7 record at home. It was the first time the two schools squared off since 2014 when Georgia beat the Bears 86-77 in triple overtime.

Georgia entertains Georgia Tech on Tuesday. Mercer will host South Alabama on Wednesday.

---

Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here

---

AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

1st Half
MER
Bears
31
UGA
Bulldogs
44

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Amanze Ngumezi vs. Russel Tchewa (Silas Demary Jr. gains possession)
19:36	+3	Jabri Abdur-Rahim makes three point jump shot	0-3
19:16		Amanze Ngumezi misses two point jump shot
19:14		Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe defensive rebound
18:48		Russel Tchewa turnover (lost ball) (Jalyn McCreary steals)
18:29		Amanze Ngumezi misses three point jump shot
18:27		Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe defensive rebound
18:16		Jah Quinones personal foul (Noah Thomasson draws the foul)
18:07	+2	Silas Demary Jr. makes two point layup	0-5
17:45		Caleb Hunter misses three point jump shot
17:43		Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe defensive rebound
17:43		Jalyn McCreary personal foul
17:23		Russel Tchewa misses two point layup
17:21		Jah Quinones defensive rebound
17:04	+2	Jah Quinones makes two point jump shot	2-5
16:52		Robby Carmody personal foul (Jabri Abdur-Rahim draws the foul)
16:41		Noah Thomasson misses two point jump shot
16:39		Jah Quinones defensive rebound
16:26	+2	Alex Holt makes two point jump shot (Jah Quinones assists)	4-5
16:14		Noah Thomasson misses two point layup
16:12		Russel Tchewa offensive rebound
16:02	+2	Silas Demary Jr. makes two point layup (Russel Tchewa assists)	4-7
15:35		Jalyn McCreary misses two point jump shot
15:33		Silas Demary Jr. defensive rebound
15:27		Noah Thomasson misses three point jump shot
15:25		Jah Quinones defensive rebound
15:16	+2	Jalyn McCreary makes two point jump shot (Jah Quinones assists)	6-7
15:09		Anthony Benard personal foul
15:09		TV timeout
15:01	+2	Russel Tchewa makes two point layup	6-9
14:44		Robby Carmody misses two point jump shot
14:42		Bears offensive rebound
14:33		Blue Cain blocks Robby Carmody's two point layup
14:32		Bears offensive rebound
14:30		Jake Davis misses three point jump shot
14:28		Jah Quinones offensive rebound
14:25		Robby Carmody misses two point layup
14:22		Russel Tchewa defensive rebound
14:16		Alex Holt shooting foul (Russel Tchewa draws the foul)
14:16	+1	Russel Tchewa makes regular free throw 1 of 2	6-10
14:16		Russel Tchewa misses regular free throw 2 of 2
14:16		Robby Carmody defensive rebound
13:55		Anthony Benard misses two point jump shot
13:53		Russel Tchewa defensive rebound
13:49		Blue Cain offensive foul
13:49		Blue Cain turnover (offensive foul)
13:25	+3	Alex Holt makes three point jump shot (TJ Grant assists)	9-10
13:04		RJ Melendez turnover (lost ball) (Anthony Benard steals)
12:55	+3	Alex Holt makes three point jump shot (TJ Grant assists)	12-10
12:41	+2	RJ Melendez makes two point layup	12-12
12:20	+3	Jake Davis makes three point jump shot (Jalen Cobb assists)	15-12
12:01	+3	RJ Melendez makes three point jump shot (Frank Anselem-Ibe assists)	15-15
11:35		TV timeout
11:26		RJ Melendez personal foul
11:11		TJ Grant misses three point jump shot
11:09		Jake Davis offensive rebound
11:04		Caleb Hunter misses two point jump shot
11:02		Justin Hill defensive rebound
10:59		Jake Davis shooting foul (Blue Cain draws the foul)
10:59		Blue Cain misses regular free throw 1 of 2
10:59	+1	Blue Cain makes regular free throw 2 of 2	15-16
10:37		Frank Anselem-Ibe shooting foul (Caleb Hunter draws the foul)
10:37	+1	Caleb Hunter makes regular free throw 1 of 2	16-16
10:37		Caleb Hunter misses regular free throw 2 of 2
10:37		RJ Melendez defensive rebound
10:25		TJ Grant shooting foul (RJ Melendez draws the foul)
10:25	+1	RJ Melendez makes regular free throw 1 of 2	16-17
10:25	+1	RJ Melendez makes regular free throw 2 of 2	16-18
10:10	+2	Amanze Ngumezi makes two point jump shot (Jalen Cobb assists)	18-18
9:57		TJ Grant personal foul (Jabri Abdur-Rahim draws the foul)
9:57	+1	Jabri Abdur-Rahim makes regular free throw 1 of 2	18-19
9:57	+1	Jabri Abdur-Rahim makes regular free throw 2 of 2	18-20
9:35		Caleb Hunter misses two point jump shot
9:33		Russel Tchewa defensive rebound
9:23		Amanze Ngumezi shooting foul (Russel Tchewa draws the foul)
9:23		Russel Tchewa misses regular free throw 1 of 2
9:23		Russel Tchewa misses regular free throw 2 of 2
9:23		Robby Carmody defensive rebound
8:57		Jalyn McCreary misses two point jump shot
8:55		Anthony Benard offensive rebound
8:47		Amanze Ngumezi misses three point jump shot
8:45		Russel Tchewa defensive rebound
8:37		Robby Carmody shooting foul (Justin Hill draws the foul)
8:37	+1	Justin Hill makes regular free throw 1 of 2	18-21
8:37	+1	Justin Hill makes regular free throw 2 of 2	18-22
8:20		Jah Quinones turnover (bad pass) (Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe steals)
8:14		Jabri Abdur-Rahim misses two point layup
8:12		Jake Davis defensive rebound
8:04		Anthony Benard turnover (lost ball) (Jabri Abdur-Rahim steals)
7:58	+2	Jabri Abdur-Rahim makes two point dunk (Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe assists)	18-24
7:53		TV timeout
7:34		Jalyn McCreary misses two point jump shot
7:32		Noah Thomasson defensive rebound
7:10	+3	Noah Thomasson makes three point jump shot (Silas Demary Jr. assists)	18-27
6:41	+3	Jake Davis makes three point jump shot (Jah Quinones assists)	21-27
6:20		Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe turnover (bad pass) (Anthony Benard steals)
6:14		Jabri Abdur-Rahim blocks Anthony Benard's two point layup
6:12		Bulldogs defensive rebound
5:55		Jalen Cobb shooting foul (Jabri Abdur-Rahim draws the foul)
5:55	+1	Jabri Abdur-Rahim makes regular free throw 1 of 2	21-28
5:55	+1	Jabri Abdur-Rahim makes regular free throw 2 of 2	21-29
5:42		Caleb Hunter misses two point layup
5:40		Silas Demary Jr. defensive rebound
5:18	+3	Silas Demary Jr. makes three point jump shot	21-32
4:56	+3	Caleb Hunter makes three point jump shot	24-32
4:26	+2	RJ Melendez makes two point jump shot	24-34
4:03		Jalen Cobb misses two point layup
4:01		Blue Cain defensive rebound
3:41	+2	Russel Tchewa makes two point layup	24-36
3:18	+3	Jah Quinones makes three point jump shot (Caleb Hunter assists)	27-36
2:58		Justin Hill turnover (traveling)
2:58		TV timeout
2:43		Jake Davis misses three point jump shot
2:41		Justin Hill defensive rebound
2:19		Jake Davis shooting foul (Frank Anselem-Ibe draws the foul)
2:19	+1	Frank Anselem-Ibe makes regular free throw 1 of 2	27-37
2:19		Frank Anselem-Ibe misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:19		Jalyn McCreary defensive rebound
1:57		David Thomas misses two point jump shot
1:55		RJ Melendez defensive rebound
1:54		David Thomas personal foul (RJ Melendez draws the foul)
1:54	+1	RJ Melendez makes regular free throw 1 of 2	27-38
1:54	+1	RJ Melendez makes regular free throw 2 of 2	27-39
1:36		Amanze Ngumezi misses two point jump shot
1:34		Bulldogs defensive rebound
1:21		RJ Melendez misses three point jump shot
1:18		Frank Anselem-Ibe personal foul
1:04	+2	Jalyn McCreary makes two point jump shot	29-39
0:46	+2	Blue Cain makes two point layup	29-41
0:27	+2	Amanze Ngumezi makes two point jump shot	31-41
0:26		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
0:06	+3	RJ Melendez makes three point jump shot (Russel Tchewa assists)	31-44
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
MER
Bears
38
UGA
Bulldogs
36

Time		Play	Score
19:35		Jalen Cobb misses three point jump shot
19:33		Noah Thomasson defensive rebound
19:27	+2	Russel Tchewa makes two point dunk (Noah Thomasson assists)	31-46
19:13		Jake Davis turnover (bad pass)
19:03		Caleb Hunter personal foul (Silas Demary Jr. draws the foul)
18:53		Silas Demary Jr. misses three point jump shot
18:51		Bears defensive rebound
18:34		Noah Thomasson personal foul (Alex Holt draws the foul)
18:23		David Thomas misses three point jump shot
18:21		Russel Tchewa defensive rebound
18:14		Russel Tchewa offensive foul (Jake Davis draws the foul)
18:14		Russel Tchewa turnover (offensive foul)
17:46		David Thomas misses two point jump shot
17:44		Bulldogs defensive rebound
17:24		Caleb Hunter shooting foul (Silas Demary Jr. draws the foul)
17:24		Silas Demary Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:24	+1	Silas Demary Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	31-47
17:07		Jake Davis misses three point jump shot
17:05		Alex Holt offensive rebound
17:02		Silas Demary Jr. shooting foul (Alex Holt draws the foul)
17:02		Alex Holt misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:02		Alex Holt misses regular free throw 2 of 2
17:02		Bears offensive rebound
16:48		Jah Quinones turnover (lost ball)
16:34		RJ Melendez misses two point layup
16:32		Alex Holt defensive rebound
16:19		Russel Tchewa personal foul (Alex Holt draws the foul)
16:17	+2	Jake Davis makes two point layup (Jah Quinones assists)	33-47
15:55	+2	Noah Thomasson makes two point layup (RJ Melendez assists)	33-49
15:34	+2	Jake Davis makes two point jump shot (Jalen Cobb assists)	35-49
15:19		Russel Tchewa misses two point layup
15:17		Alex Holt defensive rebound
15:03		Alex Holt misses two point jump shot
15:01		Silas Demary Jr. defensive rebound
14:54		Jah Quinones shooting foul (Jabri Abdur-Rahim draws the foul)
14:54		TV timeout
14:54	+1	Jabri Abdur-Rahim makes regular free throw 1 of 3	35-50
14:54	+1	Jabri Abdur-Rahim makes regular free throw 2 of 3	35-51
14:54	+1	Jabri Abdur-Rahim makes regular free throw 3 of 3	35-52
14:36		David Thomas misses two point jump shot
14:34		Justin Hill defensive rebound
14:25		Blue Cain offensive foul (Robby Carmody draws the foul)
14:25		Blue Cain turnover (offensive foul)
14:25		Official timeout
14:07		Amanze Ngumezi turnover (lost ball) (Russel Tchewa steals)
13:59		David Thomas shooting foul (Justin Hill draws the foul)
13:59	+1	Justin Hill makes regular free throw 1 of 2	35-53
13:59		Justin Hill misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:59		Amanze Ngumezi defensive rebound
13:41	+3	Jake Davis makes three point jump shot (David Thomas assists)	38-53
13:21		Blue Cain misses three point jump shot
13:19		Amanze Ngumezi defensive rebound
13:03		Jalyn McCreary misses two point jump shot
13:01		Russel Tchewa defensive rebound
12:51		Noah Thomasson misses two point layup
12:49		David Thomas defensive rebound
12:40	+2	David Thomas makes two point jump shot	40-53
12:30		David Thomas personal foul (Justin Hill draws the foul)
12:21		Alex Holt personal foul (Frank Anselem-Ibe draws the foul)
12:16		RJ Melendez offensive foul (Jalyn McCreary draws the foul)
12:16		RJ Melendez turnover (offensive foul)
12:06	+2	Jalyn McCreary makes two point jump shot (Jah Quinones assists)	42-53
11:56	+3	Blue Cain makes three point jump shot (Justin Hill assists)	42-56
11:42	+2	Jalyn McCreary makes two point jump shot (Jake Davis assists)	44-56
11:42		RJ Melendez shooting foul (Jalyn McCreary draws the foul)
11:42		TV timeout
11:42	+1	Jalyn McCreary makes regular free throw 1 of 1	45-56
11:33		Justin Hill turnover (bad pass)
11:19		David Thomas misses three point jump shot
11:17		Bears offensive rebound
11:14		Frank Anselem-Ibe blocks Jalyn McCreary's two point layup
11:12		Blue Cain defensive rebound
11:08		Blue Cain turnover (bad pass) (Jalyn McCreary steals)
11:01	+2	Jalyn McCreary makes two point layup	47-56
10:47		Alex Holt personal foul (Frank Anselem-Ibe draws the foul)
10:47	+1	Frank Anselem-Ibe makes regular free throw 1 of 2	47-57
10:47	+1	Frank Anselem-Ibe makes regular free throw 2 of 2	47-58
10:28		Blue Cain shooting foul (Jalyn McCreary draws the foul)
10:28	+1	Jalyn McCreary makes regular free throw 1 of 2	48-58
10:28	+1	Jalyn McCreary makes regular free throw 2 of 2	49-58
10:14		Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe turnover (lost ball) (Jalyn McCreary steals)
10:08		Jalyn McCreary turnover (lost ball) (Blue Cain steals)
10:05		Jake Davis personal foul (Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe draws the foul)
10:05		Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe misses regular free throw 1 of 1
10:05		Bulldogs offensive rebound
9:54		Silas Demary Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Jalyn McCreary steals)
9:47		Jah Quinones misses two point layup
9:45		Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe defensive rebound
9:40		Jalyn McCreary shooting foul (RJ Melendez draws the foul)
9:40	+1	RJ Melendez makes regular free throw 1 of 2	49-59
9:40	+1	RJ Melendez makes regular free throw 2 of 2	49-60
9:34		Bears 30 second timeout
9:34		TV timeout
9:22		Jake Davis turnover (out of bounds)
9:12		Jalyn McCreary blocks Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe's two point layup
9:10		Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe offensive rebound
9:03	+3	Silas Demary Jr. makes three point jump shot (Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe assists)	49-63
8:44	+3	David Thomas makes three point jump shot (Jah Quinones assists)	52-63
8:27		Jalyn McCreary shooting foul (Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe draws the foul)
8:27	+1	Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe makes regular free throw 1 of 2	52-64
8:27		Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe misses regular free throw 2 of 2
8:27		Alex Holt defensive rebound
8:06		David Thomas misses two point jump shot
8:04		Jake Davis offensive rebound
8:00	+2	Jalyn McCreary makes two point jump shot (Jake Davis assists)	54-64
7:40		Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe misses two point jump shot
7:38		RJ Melendez offensive rebound
7:33	+2	RJ Melendez makes two point layup	54-66
7:23	+3	Jah Quinones makes three point jump shot (Alex Holt assists)	57-66
7:01		Jah Quinones shooting foul (Russel Tchewa draws the foul)
7:01		TV timeout
7:01	+1	Russel Tchewa makes regular free throw 1 of 2	57-67
7:01	+1	Russel Tchewa makes regular free throw 2 of 2	57-68
6:48		David Thomas misses three point jump shot
6:46		RJ Melendez defensive rebound
6:39	+2	Justin Hill makes two point jump shot (RJ Melendez assists)	57-70
6:19	+2	Jah Quinones makes two point layup	59-70
5:50		RJ Melendez turnover (bad pass) (David Thomas steals)
5:43		RJ Melendez blocks Jake Davis's three point jump shot
5:41		Jabri Abdur-Rahim defensive rebound
5:35		Jabri Abdur-Rahim misses two point jump shot
5:33		Russel Tchewa offensive rebound
5:32		Silas Demary Jr. misses three point jump shot
5:30		Bulldogs offensive rebound
5:30		Robby Carmody personal foul (Jabri Abdur-Rahim draws the foul)
5:30		Jabri Abdur-Rahim misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:30	+1	Jabri Abdur-Rahim makes regular free throw 2 of 2	59-71
5:14	+3	David Thomas makes three point jump shot (Robby Carmody assists)	62-71
4:59	+3	Justin Hill makes three point jump shot	62-74
4:35		Robby Carmody misses two point layup
4:33		Silas Demary Jr. defensive rebound
4:29		Silas Demary Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Amanze Ngumezi steals)
4:26	+2	David Thomas makes two point layup (Amanze Ngumezi assists)	64-74
4:11	+2	Justin Hill makes two point jump shot	64-76
4:09		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
4:09		TV timeout
3:56	+2	Amanze Ngumezi makes two point dunk (David Thomas assists)	66-76
3:36		Robby Carmody shooting foul (Justin Hill draws the foul)
3:36		Justin Hill misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:36	+1	Justin Hill makes regular free throw 2 of 2	66-77
3:21		Justin Hill personal foul (Jalyn McCreary draws the foul)
3:21		Jalyn McCreary misses regular free throw 1 of 1
3:21		Silas Demary Jr. defensive rebound
3:02		RJ Melendez misses three point jump shot
3:00		David Thomas defensive rebound
2:50		Jake Davis misses three point jump shot
2:48		Noah Thomasson defensive rebound
2:39		Amanze Ngumezi shooting foul (Russel Tchewa draws the foul)
2:39	+1	Russel Tchewa makes regular free throw 1 of 2	66-78
2:39		Russel Tchewa misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:39		Jalyn McCreary defensive rebound
2:28		David Thomas misses two point jump shot
2:26		Bears offensive rebound
2:21		Russel Tchewa blocks Jalyn McCreary's two point jump shot
2:19		Silas Demary Jr. defensive rebound
1:54		Noah Thomasson misses three point jump shot
1:52		David Thomas defensive rebound
1:47		Silas Demary Jr. shooting foul (David Thomas draws the foul)
1:47		David Thomas misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:47	+1	David Thomas makes regular free throw 2 of 2	67-78
1:20		Silas Demary Jr. misses two point layup
1:18		Jah Quinones defensive rebound
1:14	+2	Robby Carmody makes two point layup (Jah Quinones assists)	69-78
1:12		Bears 60 second timeout
1:05		Jake Davis personal foul (Silas Demary Jr. draws the foul)
1:05	+1	Silas Demary Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	69-79
1:05	+1	Silas Demary Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	69-80
0:56		David Thomas misses two point jump shot
0:54		Justin Hill defensive rebound
0:30		Justin Hill misses two point jump shot
0:28		Jalyn McCreary defensive rebound
0:19		Jah Quinones misses two point layup
0:17		Silas Demary Jr. defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Silas Demary Jr. defensive rebound