Looking to extend its five-game winning streak and regain relevance, Georgia hosts Charleston Southern on Sunday afternoon in Athens, Georgia. Georgia (10-1) is off to its best start since the 2001-02 season, when it started the season 11-1. The Bulldogs are nearing the bottom of the non-conference slate and hoping to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015. Georgia hasn’t won a tournament game since 2002. The Bulldogs are averaging 83.1 points per game and allowing just 63.4 – both improved their marks from last season, when they averaged 74.7 points in both categories. Georgia put their improved play on full display in their final game on Thursday. The Bulldogs took a 23-0 lead against Buffalo before defeating the inferior Bulls 100-49. Five-star freshman phenom Asa Newell scored 16 points, as did De’Shayne Montgomery. Montgomery, a transfer from Mount St. Mary, made his season debut after earning academic eligibility. Montgomery joins an offense that features four double-digit scorers and has already contributed to his new team. “De’Shayne was great. We’re really happy for him,” Georgia coach Mike White said. “It was exciting for all of us to see him out there. He worked hard and that’s exactly what he is. … He plays with great energy, plays with joy, he’s a high-level competitor.” Montgomery averaged 13.2 points per game for Mount St. Mary’s and was named the rookie of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference a season ago chosen this year. Newell leads the Bulldogs with an average of 16 points per game, followed by Silas Demary Jr. with 13 and Dakota Leffew with 12.4. Charleston Southern (3-10) is preparing for its fifth and final power conference opponent after losses at Clemson, LSU and Georgia Tech. The Buccaneers pulled off a stunning victory on November 30th, earning an 83-79 victory in Miami. Since then, Charleston Southern has lost three of four games, including Thursday’s 86-69 loss at North Alabama. The Buccaneers are led by preseason Big South All-Conference selection Taje’ Kelly, who is averaging 18.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. “In my opinion, Taje’ is one of the best players in the league,” Charleston Southern coach Saah Nimley said. “But he is so humble, so eager to learn. He always asks questions. He likes to lead by example.” After Kelly, RJ Johnson has 12.8 points per game and Daylen Berry has 11.8. –Field level media