The Jacksonville Giants had an impressive weekend in the state of Georgia. The defending ABA Champions defeated the Georgia Gwizzlies, 137-109, to improve their record to 6-0. Jacksonville also defeated the Atlanta Aliens on Saturday night, giving them a 2-0 record for the weekend. The wins just continue to pile up for the reigning champions.
The Giants played with great team leadership in the win. ABA all star Bernard Nugent got things started for Jacksonville. Nugent, a team veteran, scored 14 first quarter points, which put the Giants in a commanding lead. Nugent finished the game with 26 points and four steals. The point guard was tough to contain for Georgia.
Shooting guard Miguel Paul also contributed in the win. Paul scored 20 points and converted five successful three pointers. The long range shooting continued as Brandon Davis added four three pointers. The three point shooting became the turning point in the game. Georgia played competitive but the multiple three pointers were too much to overcome.
Other notable scoring leaders included Brenton Williams (18 points) and Calvin Warner (17 points). Warner and Clarence Tillman played major roles on the Giants inside game. Both players used their strength to lead the team in rebounds. Warner has been a longtime veteran for the Giants. The All ABA selection has also played overseas in other professional leagues.
Defensively, Tillman and Warner controlled any inside threat from Georgia. On the outside, Nugent and Paul kept constant pressure on the Georgia guards.
The Giants return home next week. For more information about tickets please check out Jacksonvilegiants.com.
-Story by Matt Potak