Georgia Victory Brings a Trip to NIT Semifinals

Georgia freshman Jumaine Jones scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to help the Bulldogs in a 79-65 victory over Vanderbilt that earned Georgia a trip to New York for the National Invitation Tournament’s semifinals.

The Bulldogs (19-14) will play Penn State in the semis.

“It’s great to be going, but we’re not satisfied with that,” Jones said. “We can get 20 wins and get rings. That’s what everybody is talking about.”

Jones scored seven points in a row during a three-minute span of the second half to help Georgia take control against a fellow Southeastern Conference foe, giving Georgia its second victory in three meetings with the Commodores (20-13) this season.

Jones’ three baskets in a row gave Georgia a 64-58 lead with 5:37 to play, and the lead reached 10 points just over two minutes later when Derrick Dukes made a three-point basket from the right corner and G.G. Smith made two of three free throws.

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Jason Cox scored 22 of his game-high 27 points in the first half for UC Davis, which advanced to the Division II championship game with an 88-76 win over the College of St. Rose (27-6) at Louisville, Ky.

The Aggies (30-2) will play Kentucky Wesleyan (31-2), which got 25 points and nine rebounds from Dana Williams in an 80-72 win over Virginia Union (26-6) in the other semifinal.

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Micah Sullivan and T.J. Walker scored 13 points each for top-seeded Azusa Pacific, which was a 72-64 winner over Transylvania (Ky.) in the third round of the NAIA Division I tournament at Tulsa, Okla.

In another game, East Central (Okla) beat Biola, 90-84.