Georgia Northwestern’s Alex Miller would lead all scorers in the Bobcats' home opener at the Rossville Athletic Complex on Friday night, but his 22 points wouldn’t be enough as visiting Toccoa Falls College would take home the win, 61-52.

The Cats got within six points with four minutes to play. However, Derek Westfall (Pageland, S.C.) would lead the Eagles with 17 points in the win for Toccoa (1-0).

GNTC co-captain Bud Todd would only manage five points, but blocked four shots on the night.

“We are taking all of these non-region games this month to really get a feel for who is going to provide the best punch on the court,” said GNTC’s sixth-year head coach David Stephenson.

A pair of freshmen from Sonoraville High School muscled their way to a decent debut. Point guard Tavish Reynolds and forward Tre-Vaughn Bostic each added eight points in the loss.

The Bobcats shot under 70-percent from the free-throw line, dropping in 14-of-22 shots.

"This game was our first real action as a team against any kind of opponent,” said Stephenson. “This next week will be a real measuring stick of where we stand as a team as we prepare for region play come January.”

Stephenson and his squad have until Thursday to assess the season’s first game and layout strategy for their next action, the three-day Welch College Invitational in Nashville, Tenn. The tournament opens for the Cats on Thursday at 6 p.m. against Piedmont University (N.C.).