Home US News Georgia RJ Godfrey nets 21 points and grabs 11 rebounds as Georgia defeats North Florida 90-77 in the Peach State Classic.

RJ Godfrey nets 21 points and grabs 11 rebounds as Georgia defeats North Florida 90-77 in the Peach State Classic.

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In an engaging matchup during the Peach State Classic, RJ Godfrey, a transfer from Clemson, made a significant impact by scoring 21 points while shooting 8-for-11, along with snagging 11 rebounds, leading Georgia to a 90-77 victory over North Florida on Tuesday night.

Assisting Godfrey’s effort, Silas Demary Jr. contributed 17 points, while Tyrin Lawrence, a transfer from Vanderbilt, added another 15. Freshman Asa Newell, recognized as a consensus five-star recruit, scored 13 points and secured eight rebounds for Georgia. Additional contributions came from Blue Cain, who scored 11 points, and Dakota Leffew, an all-Metro-Atlantic Athletic Conference player last season at Mount St. Mary’s, who chipped in 10 points.

Godfrey, who was part of the Clemson team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight last year, set the tone early by scoring the first basket in the paint. Throughout the evening, Georgia (now 3-0) maintained the lead without ever falling behind. Six minutes into the game, Lawrence and Leffew connected on consecutive three-pointers, quickly building the lead to 18-9. Godfrey then showcased his athleticism during an 8-0 run, scoring six points—including impressive dunks—to stretch the Bulldogs’ lead to 14 points. By halftime, Georgia was ahead 43-31.

In a noteworthy effort for North Florida, Liam Murphy dominated for a stretch, scoring 16 unanswered points. However, Nate Lliteras managed to close the gap with a three-pointer, bringing the score to 66-57 with 9:46 left on the clock. Leffew responded promptly with a three-pointer of his own, allowing Georgia to maintain a comfortable double-digit lead for the remainder of the game.

Murphy was the standout for the Ospreys, finishing with 22 points and hitting five three-pointers. Lliteras also made a solid contribution with 15 points, while Kamrin Orion added 14 points with four three-pointers, and Josh Harris recorded 12 points.

North Florida’s record now stands at 3-1 after starting the season with three straight victories, which included significant road wins against South Carolina and Georgia Tech, the latter of which was a high-scoring affair ending 105-93.