The Georgia basketball team got their first live game action on Friday night, ousting Division II’s Albany State 93-56 in an exhibition contest. Jeremy Price led the Bulldogs with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Troy Brewer and freshman Drazen Zlovaric pumped in 15 points apiece.
The Bulldogs played without senior swingman Terrance Woodbury and freshman forward Howard Thompkins because of injuries, and may have lost another frontcourt player. Albert Jackson rolled an ankle at the 4:42 mark of the second half and had to be helped off the court. Jackson started at center for Georgia and is the Bulldogs biggest player at 6-11, 265. The extent of his injury is unknown. “We only have three frontcourt guys now and that would make it two,” said Bulldog head coach Dennis Felton. “Obviously he’s going to miss some time, if [just] practice and nothing else.”
Up until that point, the news for Georgia was virtually all positive. The Bulldogs defense forced 29 Albany State turnovers and limited the Golden Rams to 43.6-percent shooting from the field.
Several of Georgia’s other freshmen saw action. Travis Leslie started at small forward in place of Woodbury and finished with seven points and five rebounds in 18 minutes of action. Zlovaric came off the bench at the small forward position to contribute his 15 points. “I just came out and played my game. The same one I played in high school and back home,” Zlovaric, a native of Serbia, said.
Also, Dustin Ware backed up Zac Swansey at point guard and finished with three points and five assists in 18 minutes, including a buzzer-beating three to give Georgia a 53-25 halftime lead. Freshman guard Ebuka Anyaorah will miss the season with a stress fracture in his left leg.
Price was 8-of-13 from the field and played a game-high 31 minutes, as he has dropped 31 pounds and now is weighing 264. “The weight loss was a big thing,” Price said. “I wasn’t able to showcase all of my ability because of the weight I had on.
Woodbury’s sore ankle should not keep him out of action much longer, but Thompkins has been plagued by a couple of injuries that may cause him to miss more meaningful time. “He very well could miss the beginning of the season,” Felton said of Thompkins.
The freshman and Georgia’s most celebrated signing has only participated in parts of two practices. .
There was no admission charge for the fans that turned out to Stegeman Coliseum to watch the Bulldog victory. Georgia will begin its regular season on Nov. 14 with a home date with USC Upstate.
Butler can be reached at jbutler@scoreatl.com.
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