By CHRIS WHITAKER
Americus Times-Recorder

AMERICUS — Talmadge Bell drained five 3-pointers en route to a game-high 20 points as Georgia Southwestern popped Clearwater Christian with a 79-53 loss.

The Hurricanes (2-1) built a 45-15 halftime lead before finishing off a lackluster of a second half.

"For whatever reason, we lost interest in playing in the second half," said GSW coach Mike Leeder. "As hard as we played the first half, it was disheartening to see us play the way we did in the second half."

Clearwater (3-5) shot 13 percent (2-15) in the first half and committed 21 turnovers. It pulled to within 15 points at 45-30 after scoring the first 15 points of the second half.

"I thought the competition was better than Knoxville (GSW won 108-33 on Saturday), but we kind of just kicked it around there in the second half. We didn't have the same intensity, and we didn't have the same desire to make those guys put the ball on the floor. It's hard when you're up 30 at the half to have the same intensity. The guys off the bench didn't provide any bounce either."

Evan Mobley ended with 15 points, and Phillip Brown, Trayce Macon and Jamon Hawkins all had 10 points.

Matt Shaw fouled out three minutes into the second half, and GSW went away from going to the paint for most of the half.

"I think he's our best team defender, our best communicator," said Leeder. "It's imperative he stays on the floor.

"We also stopped getting the ball to Phillip — he had one shot in the second half. We were perimeter conscious, and that's something we got to do a better job of. He's got to touch the ball, and Matt and Tracy need more shots.

"We've got to be better for tomorrow against Fort Valley."

GSW held edges in points off turnovers (26-11), points in the paint (22-10) and second-chance points (13-0).

Tip for Tuesday's game is 7 p.m.