LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — CIU men's basketball opened its 2026-27 season Thursday night with a tough road test against No. 18 Georgia Gwinnett, falling 96-54 to the nationally ranked Grizzlies.
The Rams (0-1) kept pace early, battling to a 9-9 tie in the opening four minutes behind a strong start from Tristyn Carrington. However, Georgia Gwinnett began to pull away midway through the first half, using its defensive pressure and efficient shooting to build a 53-29 advantage at the break.
CIU struggled to find its offensive rhythm against the Grizzlies, shooting 30.8% from the field and connecting on just four of its 17 three-point attempts. Georgia Gwinnett capitalized on 19 Rams turnovers, converting them into 23 points while shooting 55.6% from the floor.
Carrington paced the Rams with 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting, while Jeffrey Clark II added 10 points. Rhett Warga chipped in nine points and seven rebounds off the bench, while Johnny Whysong matched Warga with a team-high seven boards. Isaac Thorpe provided a spark from beyond the arc, connecting on two three-pointers.
Despite the difficult opening matchup, CIU collected 14 offensive rebounds and converted them into 14 second-chance points.
The Rams will look to bounce back Saturday, Oct. 24, when they continue their road trip against the College of Coastal Georgia in Brunswick, Ga. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET.
