Charleston Southern @ Georgia preview

Charleston Southern at Georgia

Last Meeting ( Dec 17, 2016 ) Charleston Southern 64, Georgia 84

Aiming to extend a five-game winning streak and continue its return to relevance, Georgia will host Charleston Southern in Athens, Ga., on Sunday afternoon.

Georgia (10-1) is off to its best start since the 2001-02 campaign, when it began the season 11-1. Nearing the end of the non-conference slate, the Bulldogs hope to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015. Georgia hasn't won a tournament game since 2002.

The Bulldogs average 83.1 points per game and allow just 63.4 -- both improved marks from last season, when their average was 74.7 points in both categories. Georgia put its improved play on full display Thursday in its most recent game.

The Bulldogs went ahead 23-0 against Buffalo before routing the outmatched Bulls 100-49. Five-star freshman phenom Asa Newell scored 16 points, as did De'Shayne Montgomery.

A Mount St. Mary's transfer, Montgomery made his season debut after gaining academic eligibility.

Joining an offense that balances four double-digit scorers, Montgomery already has contributed for his new team.

"De'Shayne was terrific. We're really excited for him," Georgia coach Mike White said. "It was exciting for all of us to see him out there. He worked hard, and that's kind of who he is. ... He plays with great energy, plays with joy, he's a high-level competitor."

Montgomery averaged 13.2 points per game for Mount St. Mary's, earning rookie of the year honors in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference a season ago. Newell leads the Bulldogs with an average of 16 points per game, followed by Silas Demary Jr.'s 13 and Dakota Leffew's 12.4.

Charleston Southern (3-10) prepares for its fifth and final power-conference opponent following losses at Clemson, LSU and Georgia Tech. The Buccaneers did pull a stunner on Nov. 30, earning an 83-79 win at Miami.

Since then, Charleston Southern has dropped three of four, including Thursday's 86-69 defeat at North Alabama. The Buccaneers are led by preseason Big South All-Conference selection Taje' Kelly, who averages 18.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

"In my opinion, Taje' is one of the best players in the league," Charleston Southern coach Saah Nimley said. "But he's so humble, so hungry to learn. He's always asking questions. He's a big lead-by-example guy."

Following Kelly, RJ Johnson adds 12.8 points per game and Daylen Berry chips in 11.8.

--Field Level Media