Sports

Final UT-59 UGA-57

Great game, it was point for point most of the game, with neither team leading by more than 6. Tennessee out rebounded Georgia 34-28, the last one being the most fatal. What looked like a clear over the back foul call on Tennessee center Brian Williams over Georgia Center Chris Barnes, resulted in a put back at the buzzer to lift the Volunteers (12-6, 2-2) over the Bulldogs (13-4, 2-1) at the Stegeman Coliseum. When I asked Barnes about the final play, he responded “I didn’t believe the game was over.  I just saw the flashing lights going off.  It’s heart breaking to lose in front of the home crowd.”  Brian Williams who made the game winner said, “I knew we’d have time left because we were moving with 10 seconds left.  So I had to grab the rebound and that was it.”  After the game when asked about the final play, Coach Fox raised an eyebrow and just sat there looking exhausted and emotionally drained, responding, “No, I have to watch the tape.”  Tobias Harris and Scotty Hopson led the Volunteers with 15 apiece while Gerald Robinson and Travis Leslie led the Bulldogs with 14 apiece. A clear problem with Bulldogs seems to be their lack of depth and size off the bench. While Barnes played an OK game filling in for the foul-plagued starter Jeremy Price, who had only 2 rebounds during his 9 minutes of playing time, it was clear that the Bulldog frontline was outmatched on the boards. Especially in the last minute of game, when the Vols had the ball for the last 57 seconds before Williams’  last second bucket. Coach Fox spoke about the final seconds of the game saying “we know they are going to take the last shot and we wanted to play defense without fouling like we are taught.”  Coach Fox also went on to say about the team, ” we didn’t have the right energy, but that is not the reason we lose.  We are tired coming of a win, but it’s a grind.”

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