A slow start put the 19th-ranked Chargers behind by 6 points early to the visiting Gordon State College Highlanders but some hot shooting by Keandre Bowles helped the Chargers cut the Highlanders lead to one at the halfway point of the first half. Gordon State kept up the pressure and continued to hold the lead until monster dunks by Langston Wilson and Jarred Rosser brought life to the Chargers who grabbed their first lead (30-28) with about 4 minutes to go in the half. Unfortunately, they could not build on that momentum and lead by only a single point at the half, 40-39.
GHC started the 2nd half strong and built the lead to 8 less than 3 minutes in. Five more quick points by Wilson pushed the lead to 13 at the 15-minute mark. Gordon State fought back to cut the lead to 6 with 11 minutes left in the game. A few possessions later, GHC had pushed the lead back to double-digits but it wouldn’t stay there. With just under 3 minutes remaining in the game, Gordon State trailed by only 3. Sloppy play by GHC led to fouls and GSC hit their free throws to cut the Chargers’ lead to 1 with under 2 minutes remaining. Two free throws by Bowles put the Chargers up 3 with 14 seconds remaining but a 3 by GSC with 6 seconds left sent the game to overtime.
Chris Wright and Keandre Bowles scored the first 8 points of the extra period to push GHC ahead 95-87. In spite of a questionable technical foul on GHC head coach J.J. Merritt giving Gordon State a small spark allowing them to score the next 4, brothers Jarred and Jarrel Rosser combined to hit 5 free throws to seal the 102-97 victory.
Keandre Bowles led seven Chargers in double-figures with 25 points and 7 rebounds. Jarrel and Jarred Rosser had 14 and 10 points, respectively. Langston Wilson (13), Joel Pullen (12), Chris Wright (11), and Dominic Ham (10) rounded out the double-digit scoring for GHC. The Chargers get a week off before returning to action at home against East Georgia State College on Marc 16. Tip is scheduled for 6:00PM.