BARNESVILLE, Ga. – Varun Danak and JahNile Hill each scored 18 points and Destin Jenkins added 11 as Gordon State survived a late scare to take a 71-69 win over Central Georgia Technical College in Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) men's basketball action Thursday night.
Leading 33-31 at halftime, GSC went down to the final horn with CGTC as the Highlanders pulled out the two-point victory.
CGTC had taken a 77-71 win Tuesday night in Macon.
GSC also played in its seventh game this season decided by six points or less.
GSC (4-4 overall, 4-4 GCAA) took a 69-64 lead on a clutch field goal from Tyquan Baker (Lakeland, Ga. / Lanier Co. HS) with 1:10 remaining, but CGTC (6-5, 2-5) pulled to win two at 69-67 on an old-fashioned three-point play by Dominic Pierce with 13.8 seconds to go.
But Jheim McDonald (Conyers, Ga. / Rockdale Co. HS) hit a pair of free throws 6.4 seconds left for a 71-67 lead and seal the victory for GSC.
Mark Vance, Jr., led the way for CGTC with 18 points.
Danak (Snellville, Ga. / Brookwood HS) added a game-high 11 rebounds while Hill (Manchester, Ga. / Manchester HS) dished out a game-high five assists and Jenkins (Tyrone, Ga. / Sandy Creek HS) added a rebound and went 4 of 6 from the free throw line.
GSC is right back it on Saturday as Andrew College comes in for a 1 p.m. GCAA game. Attendance is limited to 50 GSC students and the home team's parents.
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The Gordon State College Department of Athletics is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA). Gordon State College competes in NJCAA Division I in the sports of Women's Soccer (Fall), Men's Basketball (Fall/Spring), Softball (Spring) and Baseball (Spring). Gordon State College is located in Barnesville, Ga., approximately 60 miles south of Atlanta and 35 miles northwest of Macon. Gordon State College offers both two-year and four-year degree programs and believes that our Athletics program provides student-athletes with the opportunity to be successful academically, athletically and in life after their time as a Highlander. Follow GSC Athletics at www.gscathletics.com, on Facebook (@GordonStateCollege #GSCHighlandersForward), on Twitter (@GordonState) and Instagram (gordon_state).