Sports

UGA mens basketball lost another close one tonight against South Carolina. The Dogs lost 77-78 to a South Carolina team coming off an upset of number 1 Kentucky who beat number 23 ranked Vanderbilt earlier in the day. The loss drops Georgia to 9-10 overall and 1-5 in the SEC with 4 of those losses by 10 or less points.

The Dogs lead by as many as 9 points in the final 10 minutes of the game, but the charging Gamecocks came back and tied the game with the magnificent play of Senior Devan Downey. Downey posted 33 points by raining in threes in front of a home crowd at the Columbia Life Arena, which came to life in the second half. Behind the play of Downey and an upbeat home crowd the Dogs were unable to overcome what seems to be a disease characterized by symptoms of not being able to “Finish the Drill.”

Coach Fox’s has been quoted saying that there are no “moral victories” for his team after a near upset of Kentucky. However, let this loss serve as another motivational factor for the Dogs who have played many great teams close this year. One of those great games they won posting a victory over a then number 8 ranked Tennessee. Despite the win over Tennessee and magnificent showings against Top 25 ranked Kentucky and Ole Miss, the Dogs need to know that to compete in the SEC and be an NCAA Tourney team they will have to start winning those close games.

I have faith that Coach Fox will mold this team into the potential that they have shown; however, the Bulldogs will have to play off their leash the rest of the season if they want to make it to the NCAA tourney, which is still a possibility.

The next game is at home against Arkansas (9-11) Wednesday night at 7.