Chargers rally to defeat conference-leading South Georgia State
March 1, 2025
by Clifton Puckett, GHC Athletic Dept.
In a crucial conference matchup, Georgia Highlands College surged in the second half to secure an 85-79 win over South Georgia State College on Saturday in Rome. The victory moves the Chargers to 8-6 in GCAA play, keeping them firmly in the race for a home playoff game. Despite the loss, South Georgia remains atop the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association standings at 11-4.
The Chargers started strong, gaining an early lead, but South Georgia countered, taking control before the halftime break. The Hawks secured an eight-point lead at halftime and increased it to 11 in the second half. Nevertheless, GHC remained resilient, surging back with an impressive 53-39 performance in the second half to secure the lead permanently in the final minutes.
Marquin Thompson (South Gwinnett HS) led the way with 20 points, while Jay’Quan Nelson (Alexander HS) added 16 to fuel the comeback. Jah’kim Payne (Alexander HS) controlled the boards with a team-high nine rebounds, and Chi Shannon (Chapel Hill HS) protected the rim with three blocks.
With the regular season winding down, the Chargers now focus on a critical road test against South Georgia Technical College on Wednesday in Americus — the first of their final two games before the postseason.
