Georgia
LSU basketball blows a 15-point lead in first half and falls to Georgia at home
The LSU basketball team’s hopes for an NCAA Tournament at-large berth are slipping away quickly.
The Tigers were unable to capitalize on a big opportunity as they fell 83-71 to Georgia on Saturday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The Bulldogs snapped their three-game losing streak in the process.
Max Mackinnon had 26 points, five rebounds, four assists and made all 10 of his free throws for LSU.
LSU point guard Dedan Thomas missed a second straight contest and his seventh game overall. He reaggravated a left foot injury Jan. 28.
Coach Matt McMahon was pleased with his team’s strong start, leading by as many as 15 points in the first half. He mentioned how it had nine assists to only two turnovers after the first 10 minutes.
The fast start would not last, though.
“I thought the difference in the game, two things,” McMahon said. “Number one, after the nine-to-two assist-to-turnover ratio, we were three (assists) to 12 (turnovers) the rest of the game. And then, after only giving up four (offensive) boards in the first half, we give up 12 in the second half. A lot of them led to dagger threes, and they made us pay in the fight and pursuit for those 50-50 plays.”
Mackinnon started the game aggressively, taking four shot attempts in the first three minutes. He made three shots, with two coming from downhill drives for scoop layups and one 3-pointer.
The Portland transfer also drove and passed to a cutting Pablo Tamba, who made a layup. Mackinnon scored or assisted on the first nine points for LSU (14-9, 2-8 SEC).
The senior’s strong opening helped LSU take a 13-4 lead at the first media timeout. Mackinnon didn’t cool off after the break as he came off a screen to make a 3-pointer. A couple of minutes later, he dribbled through a full-court press, drove to the hoop, spun in the paint and kicked the ball out to Marquel Sutton for a corner 3-pointer. The Omaha transfer finished with 14 points and five rebounds.
PJ Carter, a 6-foot-4 senior guard, then made back-to-back 3-pointers early in possessions. The second 3 was a few feet above the arc and was spurred by a recovery block from behind by Robert Miller. The field goal gave LSU a 31-16 advantage, its largest lead, with 9:47 remaining in the first half.
Georgia (16-7, 5-5) started to play a full-court press to disrupt LSU’s comfort offensively around the 12-minute mark. That helped the Bulldogs match the intensity as they fought back.
Kanon Catchings was the early go-to option for the Bulldogs. The 6-8 wing made his first four shots, including three 3-pointers. He closed the game with 22 points.
Georgia entered halftime making seven of its last 10 shots. It forced a few LSU turnovers and had two consecutive steals that led to transition dunks, giving the Bulldogs a three-point lead with 25 seconds left before halftime, and Georgia entered the break up 42-37 after an 11-0 run.
Senior Rashad King replaced Thomas in the starting lineup. In his fifth game as a starter, the transfer from Northeastern has averaged 11.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and shot 53.6% overall.
The senior didn’t have as strong of an outing against Georgia. King had zero points, four assists and three turnovers.
The Bulldogs continued applying full-court pressure and remained more physical in their half-court defense. LSU had chances to push after stops, but it had self-inflicted mistakes. One example was an alley-oop miss from Georgia, but King threw an outlet pass to a guarded Tamba for a turnover. That mishap led to a 3-pointer by Georgia’s Blue Cain, who gave his team a 48-41 lead with 17:42 left.
Other times, LSU didn’t stay as connected on cutters and allowed more offensive rebounds with Miller playing center. Georgia had four offensive boards in the first seven minutes of the second half. It had that amount in the entire first half.
“Sometimes people were put in rotations and missed box outs,” Mackinnon said about the poor rebounding. “I know I miss box outs. They’re good athletes. Sometimes can’t win a jumping contest. You gotta hit first. “
Starting LSU center Mike Nwoko played only 15 minutes as he battled foul trouble. He fouled out with 5:22 left in the game and had eight points and five rebounds.
After Nwoko fouled out, Georgia pummeled LSU on the offensive glass. The extra chances energized the Bulldogs, who expanded their lead to 77-60 with 4:15 remaining. McMahon said Nwoko’s foul trouble “made it tough” for the Tigers. The junior was coming off a 21-point outing in LSU’s previous five-point overtime win at South Carolina.
LSU’s next game will be its second meeting against No. 21 Arkansas at 8 p.m. Tuesday. In the first contest at Arkansas, the Tigers lost 85-81.
Georgia
Zuckerman eyes MLB Draft after superb baseball season at Georgia Tech
Pennsbury Baseball Zuckerman District One Championship PIAA
Pennsbury junior Brendan Zuckerman smacks an RBI single to left in the Falcons’ 7-run first inning of District One 6A championship victory
Ryan Zuckerman is last on the alphabetical list of the 335 college and high school baseball players attending the June 22-27 MLB Draft Combine in Phoenix.
What the 2023 Pennsbury graduate did in his lone season at Georgia Tech has garnered him plenty of attention from MLB scouts regardless of where his name is on a list that includes Holy Ghost Prep grad Aiden Robbins, a Texas outfield standout who is expected to go as early as late in the first round, fellow Pennsbury graduate Joe Tiroly, an infielder from Virginia, and Pennsbury senior right-handed pitcher Keller Bradley.
MVP of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament for the conference champion Yellow Jackets, second-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and leader in home runs (23) and RBIs (79, tied for eighth in the country) for the high-powered Georgia Tech offense are just a few of Zuckerman’s notable accomplishments heading into the July 11-13 draft. He is projected to go toward the middle of the 20 rounds.
“It’s pretty surreal for sure,” said Zuckerman, 21. “It’s something I dreamed of my whole life.”
In a season filled with memorable moments, perhaps most impressive was Zuckerman being named ACC Tournament MVP after hitting three home runs with six RBIs and batting .571 (8 for 14), culminating in a 13-6 championship game win over North Carolina in Charlotte. He also was a first-team All-ACC selection at third base.
Zuckerman and Georgia Tech went into the NCAA Atlanta regional as the nation’s No. 2 seed. Though the 50-11 Yellow Jackets ended up being eliminated by losing twice to Oklahoma, including 8-7 in 10 innings for the regional title, Zuckerman can only rave about his experience at Georgia Tech.
“If you would have told me that’s how the season for me and each of us on the team would’ve gone, I would’ve been extremely happy,” Zuckerman said. “It was probably the best decision I ever made in my life.”
After a solid sophomore season at Pitt in which he hit .295 with 16 doubles, 13 home runs, 48 RBIs and 48 runs scored, Zuckerman believed transferring would help him develop into a more pro-ready player and allow him to win more games. And Georgia Tech checked all the boxes
In addition to his career-best home run and RBI numbers, Zuckerman led Georgia Tech in 2026 with 24 multi-RBI games while establishing career-highs in batting average (.345), runs (71), hits (80), walks (37), slugging percentage (.720) and on-base percentage (.438). He batted fifth in the order.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Zuckerman, who always had a strong arm, also worked hard to improve his defense at third base, resulting in 15.99 defensive runs saved for the season, which was the 13th-highest total in college baseball.
“I like to say I’m arguably the best third baseman in the country,” he said.
As a senior playing third at Pennsbury, Zuckerman hit .465 with an on-base percentage of .563, plus six doubles, six home runs, 23 RBIs and scored 26 runs.
“In high school, he was incredible for us,” said Pennsbury head coach Joe Pesci. “(A year ago), he decided to go from a mid- to low ACC team to the best team in the ACC. Surrounding himself with amazing players at Georgia Tech, he’s kind of elevated his game.”
Since the conclusion of the collegiate season, Zuckerman has been working out in preparation for the MLB Draft Combine and, ultimately, the draft. He’s been splitting his time between Yardley and Atlanta.
MLB teams have indicated Zuckerman’s power bat and defense are two of his strengths, while he’s focusing on improving his swing selection and making more contact at the plate.
Zuckerman is looking forward to hearing his name called by one of the 30 major league clubs. Whether a team views him as a third baseman, first baseman, corner outfielder or even second baseman doesn’t really matter to him.
“I think right now I’m in a great position to go and play professional baseball and start my journey up to the big leagues,” Zuckerman said. “The goal is not to get drafted – it’s to play MLB.”
Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly is a sports columnist for PhillyBurbs.com. Support our journalism with a subscription.
Georgia
Georgia pair charged with murder after bartender’s dismembered remains found in lake outside Atlanta
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A Georgia pair have been charged with murder after allegedly slaughtering a bartender and dumping his dismembered remains in a lake, according to authorities.
Mario Andre Barber, 46, and Brittany Amber Baker, 42, were arrested on Monday for allegedly murdering Jamal Rashad Parker, 37, in a home outside of Atlanta, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.
Investigators discovered Parker’s remains in May in the Dog River Reservoir, located about 30 miles outside Atlanta.
Parker’s identity was confirmed using DNA comparison technology after his father contacted authorities to report that the victim’s tattoos matched his son’s ink, local station WSB-TV reported.
MINNESOTA MAN ACCUSED OF DISMEMBERING GIRLFRIENDS, HIDING BODIES IN STORAGE UNITS ENTERS PLEA
Mario Andre Barber, 46, and Brittany Amber Baker, 42, are charged with murder. (Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)
Investigators believe the two suspects killed Parker inside a home in Douglasville where Baker lived.
Late last month, investigators were observed leaving the home with a reciprocating saw and cleaning supplies, according to WSB-TV.
Police have not disclosed if Parker knew his alleged killers. However, a GoFundMe created by a family member described the pair as “people he knew and trusted.”
SUZANNE SIMPSON’S DNA FOUND ON MURDER SUSPECT HUSBAND’S SAW THAT CAN CUT METAL
A family member described Jamal Rashad Parker as a bartender, musician and artist with “a beautiful soul and spirit.” (GoFundMe)
The suspects pleaded not guilty in court on Tuesday and are being held without bond. Both have lengthy criminal records, according to reports.
“I want them to be punished. And I don’t even think a life sentence is good enough,” Parker’s dad, Charles Parker, told WSB-TV outside the courthouse.
“It’s the kind of stuff you see on TV, but I mean … they had no remorse,” he added.
In addition to bartending at Ms. Icey’s Kitchen & Bar in Atlanta, the victim was a musician and artist with “a beautiful soul and spirit,” according to the GoFundMe page created to cover burial costs.
Investigators believe the two suspects killed the victim inside a home in Douglasville. (Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)
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“He loved life and the people he met along his journey in life. He was a musical artist, visual artist, and a professional bartender who enjoyed creating new drinks. This has totally devastated our family and friends and has left us heartbroken,” the fundraiser reads.
Georgia
Georgia football trying to flip Grayson CB recruit
The Georgia Bulldogs are trying to flip cornerback recruit Preston Glasco just over a week after he committed to the Connecticut Huskies.
Glasco, a member of the class of 2027, announced his commitment to UConn on June 10. Since committing to UCONN, Georgia has hosted Glasco on an official visit and offered him a scholarship (back on June 18).
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound cornerback has excellent length and size. Glasco has impressive athleticism and ran a 4.47-4.57 second 40-yard dash (hand timed) during a recent workout with the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Glasco plays high school football for Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia. He’s unranked as a recruit, but that’s bound to change soon. The unranked cornerback plays against a stout level of competition at Grayson, who is a Georgia high school powerhouse.
Glasco has scholarship offers from Army, Yale, Boston College, Penn and more. He’s a great student and appears to be healthy after he was recovering from a surgery around this time last year. The talented Grayson cornerback has also gone on recent visits to South Carolina and Vanderbilt.
Coach Kirby Smart and Georgia currently don’t have any cornerback commitments in the class of 2027.
Georgia football offers Preston Glasco
“Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Georgia,” Glasco said after Georgia offered him.
Glasco visits UGA football
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