Georgia, Fresno State In Nit Semis Teams Bulldog Way Into Trip To Madison Square Garden

Freshman Jumaine Jones scored 20 points, including seven in a row during a 3-minute second-half stretch, as Georgia defeated Vanderbilt 79-65 in the quarterfinals of the NIT on Thursday night at Athens, Ga.

The Bulldogs (19-14) head to Madison Square Garden in New York for a semifinal match against Penn State next Tuesday night.

Jones’ three baskets in a row gave Georgia a 64-58 lead with 5:37 remaining. The lead reached 10 points just over 2 minutes later when Derrick Dukes made a 3-pointer from the right corner and G.G. Smith hit 2 of 3 free throws. Smith was fouled on a 3-point attempt he launched to prevent a shot-clock violation with 3:14 to play.

Jones also had 12 rebounds.

Drew Maddux scored 19 points for Vanderbilt (20-13).

Lorenzo Hall added 12 points for Georgia and Dukes and Ray Harrison each had 10. Dan Langhi had 11 and James Strong and Vince Ford 10 each for the Commodores.

It was the fifth victory in six games for the Bulldogs and their ninth in 12.

Vanderbilt built an 18-9 lead just over 7 minutes into the game before Georgia rallied to trail only 32-31 at halftime.

Smith’s layup and Harrison’s 3-pointer to start the second half gave Georgia a lead it held until Maddux hit a 3-pointer for a 49-46 Vandy lead with 12:48 to play.

Phenizee Ransom countered with a 3-pointer to tie it and Hall broke the tie on a layup with 11:39 to play, putting the Bulldogs ahead to stay.

Fresno St. 85, Hawaii 83

Fresno overcame the loss of two players arrested earlier in the week to top the Rainbows at Honolulu.

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NIT GLANCE Tuesday’s semifinals Penn St. (18-12) vs. Georgia (19-14) Minnesota (18-15) vs. Fresno State (21-11) Thursday’s championship Semifinal winners, 4:30 p.m.