With 2:10 left to play, the Stegeman Coliseum crowd of 8,722 stood as one, their cheers resounding throughout the building. On the court, Anthony Edwards waved, before walking to his seat on the Georgia bench.
Edwards had just picked up his fifth foul, but what a debut he had after scoring a team-high 24 points to lead the Bulldogs to a 91-72 win over Western Carolina in Tuesday’s season-opener.
“That was definitely a moment I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” said Edwards. “The crowd … they brought a lot of joy to my heart. This will always stay with me.”
Edwards’ performance was certainly one for the record books.
His 24-point effort marked the second-highest total for a Bulldog making his college debut since Dominique Wilkins scored 26 points against Troy in 1979.
Edwards finished a rebound shy of having a double-double.
The nation’s No. 3 player for the 2019 class broke open what was a close game with a pair of 3-pointers from the key inside of a minute, extending the lead to 71-63.
Western Carolina - which received 21 points by Mason Faulkner and 17 from Carlos Dotson – would get no closer.
“Those were big,” head coach Tom Crean said of Edwards’ two 3-pointers. “We always remind him not to settle. When the ball is moving in the flow of the offense like that, it gets swung in and he’s already ready to shoot, that’s the way we want it to be. I really like the fact that they were catch and shoots because that’s where he needs to improve.”
At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Edwards is the highest-ranked player to sign with the Bulldog basketball team. Wilkins was the most hyped recruit in 1979, but that was before individual recruiting rankings were available.
In the Internet age, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was the previously highest-ranked player to come to UGA at No. 12 in 2011. Louis Williams signed with Georgia as the No. 6 prospect in 2005 but opted to enter the NBA Draft.
Edwards did have plenty of help.
Fellow freshman Sahvir Wheeler came off the bench and helped spark the Bulldogs, not only adding 19 points but changing the tempo with several impressive, hard-driving plays that resulted in transition layups.
“People hate short people in the game,” Edwards said of Wheeler, who is listed, perhaps generously, at 5-10. “They don’t get no respect, but he’s a problem to deal with, I can promise you that. I think he thinks he’s 6-4 with the way he was hitting the rim.” Senior Tyree Crump added 15 points for the Bulldogs, who shot 47 percent (31-of-66) but struggled from the free-throw line (21-of-32). Georgia outrebounded WCU 52-41.
Georgia outscored the Catamounts in the second half 54-34 after trailing 38-37 at the half.
Edwards did his part to keep Georgia close, tallying 12 of the Bulldogs’ point after going 3 of 9 from the field to start the game.
Georgia returns to action next Tuesday when the Bulldogs host the Citadel.
NOTE: Prior to the game, Georgia head coach Crean announced that senior guard Jordan Harris will be suspended until Dec. 20. “This is an internal matter, and as you know, I’m limited in what I can say,” Crean said. “Jordan is a valued member of this team, and we look forward to his return to action.”
