Preview: Southern Crescent Tigers at Georgia Highlands Chargers

ROME, Ga. (Interstat) — Two Georgia junior college men’s basketball teams seeking to reverse difficult seasons will meet Wednesday when the Southern Crescent Tigers visit the Georgia Highlands Chargers.

The game pits a winless Southern Crescent squad (0-10) against a Georgia Highlands team (3-7) looking to regain its footing after a string of recent losses. Both teams are coming off double-digit road defeats last Wednesday. Southern Crescent fell 80-74 at East Georgia State, while Georgia Highlands was defeated 96-64 at South Georgia Tech.

A key matchup will feature two players aiming for more consistent contributions. Southern Crescent will look to sophomore guard Jaquavious Peek, who has shown flashes of productivity. Peek scored eight points in 21 minutes against Gordon State on Jan. 14 but has logged only one minute in three of his last five appearances, including the most recent game.

Georgia Highlands counters with sophomore forward Justen Goudelock. His playing time has also varied, but he delivered a strong all-around performance of 12 points, six rebounds and two assists in a narrow loss to East Georgia State on Jan. 10. In the Chargers’ last victory, an 81-79 win over Gordon State on Jan. 7, Goudelock played 27 minutes and contributed nine rebounds and three assists.

The Tigers’ season has been defined by offensive struggles and defensive lapses, with opponents frequently scoring in the 80s and 90s. Their search for a first win grows more urgent as the season progresses. The Chargers, while also battling inconsistency, have shown they can win close games, as evidenced by their tight victory over Gordon State earlier this month.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, this contest is projected to be a high-scoring affair, ending in a 100-100 tie. Such an outcome would represent a significant offensive breakout for both teams.

Wednesday’s game is the first of two regular-season meetings between the programs. They are scheduled to meet again at Southern Crescent on March 7.

For the Tigers, this begins a critical three-game road stretch. The Chargers look to defend their home court before heading into a tough road game at Gordon State on Feb. 11.

Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. EST at the Georgia Highlands College gymnasium.