Kanon Catchings nabs 16 as Georgia cruises past North Carolina Central

Kanon Catchings scored 16 points and Blue Cain added 15 to lead a balanced attack and spark Georgia to a 78-62 season-opening win over North Carolina Central on Monday in Athens.

It was Georgia's 37th straight home win against nonconference opponents.

Catchings shot 5-for-10 from the field, including two 3-pointers. Cain was 7-for-12 from the floor and moved past Gerald Crosby and into 40th place on the school's career scoring list. Marcus "Smurf" Millender scored 12, going 9-for-10 from the line.

Georgia played without starter Kareem Stagg because of an undisclosed physical ailment. He was replaced in the lineup by Freddie Dilione V, a transfer from Penn State, who had four steals.

North Carolina Central was led by Cristian Sanon, one of 14 new players on the roster, with 19 points. The Claflin transfer shot 7-for-15 and made five 3-pointers, four of them in the first half to keep the Eagles in the game. Trey Brown had 10 points and nine rebounds and Maurice Vassel scored 10.

The Eagles took advantage of some hot 3-point shooting and grabbed an early 13-10 lead, only to have the Bulldogs take command by scoring 11 unanswered points, including layups by Catchings and Blue, and led 36-19 with 4:52 left.

Georgia endured a stretch where it missed 7 of 8 field goals and held a 41-28 halftime lead. The Bulldogs converted just 6 of 13 free throws in the first half but turned nine Eagles turnovers into 14 points.

North Carolina Central outscored Georgia 8-2 early in the second half, with six points from Vassell, and trimmed the lead to 47-38 with 14:30 left. But the Bulldogs responded with a 9-3 run to regain a 15-point lead and the Eagles never got closer than 11 points the rest of the game.

Georgia has won all three meetings against North Carolina Central. This contest was different than the last meeting in 2022 when the Bulldogs rallied for a 64-54 win.

Georgia hosts Presbyterian on Friday. North Carolina Central plays again on Saturday at Longwood.

--Field Level Media