Sports

BULLDAWGS WIN! 64-48!

SECONDS LEFT: The fans are on their feet giving much love to the Dawgs as the buzzer takes us home!

1:32 The mood is setting up nicely for a UGA win, as the ref chats with Leslie before the in-boud to Ware.  A sub is made to the joy of the fans, #12 Matt Bucklin in the game!

3:21 At the timeout, the fans still pound for a well-to-do UGA, and we see SC attempt some slick ball handling to little avail as UGA continues steady gameplay.

4:23 An SC out-of-bounds pass nearly topples a cameraman, as UGA maintains control here late in the half.  The tempo has turned smartly intermittent, as moments of disciplined energy are paced with time-shaving ball handling.

5:15 UGA’s energy concretes their defense into some clean blocks, but some noise under the rim sends SC’s 44, Sam Muldrow to the line and he picks up two.

5:50 UGA’s still playing with focus and confidence through the 64-40 GEORGIA LEAD.

6:34 Both teams collecting fouls this half, SC at 10 and UGA at 6.  Robinson on the line for 1, feels those Magic Fingers and delivers.  UGA quickly recovers the ball as we see UGA heating up and SC losing steam.

6:34! YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS!  A BREAKAWAY BY TRAVIS LESLIE AS HE PASSES BEHIND THE BACK TO A GERALD ROBINSON LAYUP FOR A LOGISTICAL POWERHOUSE OF A PLAY, LEAVING SC SEARCHING!  UNBELIEVABLE!

7:58 SC gets a good look on a three and Ellington delivers.  Thompkins causes a beautiful SC turnover and Leslie, D-Ware, and Robinson finesse the ball to Thompkins for a jumper!

8:25 LESLIE ANNIHILATES A LONG DEUCE!

9:00 Thompkins stands unwavering like a Greek sculpture as SC attempts to draw a foul.  The tables turn as SC picks up a technical and Georgia picks up more points.  57-37 GEORGIA.

9:49 A half-court cornering double team on UGA’s Sherrard Brantley brings Mark Fox to the rescue with a timeout.  A solid Robinson pounds his way to the court but a quick SC hand strips it.

10:38 Robinson checks back in, getting a quick touch and a some solid volleys between him and Thompkins give THOMPKINS A RIDICULOUS SLAMMER!

11:00 SC, now collecting fouls with 7, shuttles UGA’s Chris Barnes to the line who scopes it out, sizes it up, and stares down his two buckets, adding weight to the scoreboard.

11:33 Back in the game and with SC’s Eric Smith at the line for two, Spike Dawg bounces some encouraging distraction, but Smith gets his two.

11:33 An SC timeout after the Travis Leslie onslaught.  His fire is contagious as the crowd explodes a “GLORY! GLORY!  TO ‘OL GEORGIA!”

12:03 A double team on Robinson leads to SC’s 6th team foul. And LESLIE FINDS HIS WAY TO OUTER SPACE FOR A MONSTER DUNK! 51-30 GEORGIA!

12:39 SC FINDS NO ROOM UNDER THE RIM AND PICKS UP A TRAVEL!

13:25 UGA BREAKS THE 20 POINT BARRIER WITH ANOTHER LESLIE JUMPER!

13:38 Leslie finds elevation over 33, Slawson for a replay worthy jumper!

14:27 Sloppy ball handling by SC leads to a beautiful Thompkins’ bucket! 45-28 GEORGIA

15:30 No surprise here, another foul on SC, followed by another!  4 Team fouls on SC.  Magic Fingers give Jeremy Price the “OOMPHF!!” as he hones his two to the board.

15:39 Official timeout as Justin Ware administers a foul.  41-27 GEORGIA.  Georgia hinting at the 20 point lead, finding the rhythm again after the halftime coda.   The Jumbo-Tron gets the crowd dancing to “SHOUT!” and the fans’ excitement of a UGA lead are registering in the team’s performance.

16:59 SC pulls a non-shooting foul followed by another!  Some BEAUTIFUL BULLDAWG PASSING gives Price a wide open dunk and UGA HEATS UP!

18:18 The Half-Time stats tell the story as in the first period, Georgia rocked 18 in the paint, with SC only at 6.  We’re back in the game now, and a missed layup from SC turns the ball over to Georgia.  An unbiased reporter claps to amplify the BullDawg spirit.

19:15 Thompkins handles the ball behind his back in some impressive dribbling, garnering amazement from the fans.  After some back and forth between teams, SC picks up a jumper in the paint.  Georgia calls a timeout

20:00 The buzzer starts the second half as SC picks up a foul from Leslie.  15, Malik Cooke takes his two.

HALFTIME: The spirit of our youths entertain as our Dawgs head to the locker room.  We’ve seen a lot of great looks from Georgia that turned into confident baskets and Physics-bending passing all over the court. SC’s highlights have been on their defense, stopping Georgia in several key plays.  SC’s been having trouble following through on the good looks they’ve been getting, with several unplanted and hurried attempts.

Under the tunnel, the Dawgs boil up their energy in a huddle of cohesion that parallels their playing on the court.  We’ve seen more extensive communication from UGA than SC and more attempts to pull off those bigger plays.  SC’s playing a safer game with more traditional passing.  But when a team is focused on the goal, aware of each other, and confident without haste, those bigger plays turn to rewards and UGA has been cashing in.

0:45 12, Galloway to the line for SC makes his one, and D-Ware and Leslie communicate like pros on the return, dominating the court, but SC defense knocks it loose in the paint. And we’re at half-time with the score 39-22 Georgia

1:25 Robinson wants a shot clock beating lay-up, but the ball feels like traveling back to SC, but not for long as on the return Robinson hammers in a dunk! As we near halftime, 39-19 GEORGIA

2:35 Leslie grabs an SC missed shot, passes, gets the ball back, and with the Fluidity of Water, dunks over an SC head!  The crowd’s exploding!

3:06 Leslie to the line sinks his first and graces his second.  Beautiful focus by Leslie.

3:08 SC’s Ellington pulls a nasty block on Leslie, drawing a foul and warranting a timeout. 33-18 GEORGIA, as the T-Shirt cannons deliver gear to the students and the cheerleaders rise to touch the rafters.

4:20 Inbound to D-Ware, as some WILD team passing makes the fans gasp until a sick three by Robinson seals the deal!

4:39 Price gets an unwelcomed encroachment from 24, Harris, giving SC 6 team fouls.  Price feels the Magic Fingers and picks up one at the line

5:01 Thompkins gives his second foul on 24,  Harris who pulls only 1 of his 2, but a quick SC rebound meets the net. SC to 16.

6:04 SC tries a nasty three and UGA rebounds as a solid look by Leslie barely misses the sweet spot.  29-13 GEORGIA.

7:04 D-Ware’s confidence leads the Dawgs around the court as he battles through an SC jam, sending the ball to Thompkins who capitalizes!  Jeremy Price feeling the fans’ Magic Fingers as he takes two from the line.

7:31 at the timeout,  SC has 4 team fouls with 3 Timeouts, UGA 1 foul with 5 Timeouts

7:47 SC’s getting clean defense on the Dawgs, forcing the ball out and UGA calls a timeout.  22-13 Georgia as the fans find Hairy Dawg on the Jumbo-Tron McDonald’s shuffle.

8:20 Thompkins pulls a foul, giving SC the And1, Price returns to the game.

Trey THOMPKINS with a crazy behind the back layup gets the good eyes on it and delivers!  22-8 Georgia!

Game On! SC ball ends up out of bounds and subs are made for the Gamecocks.

9:48!  How can SC hear a thing?!  After a follow-up dunk from a foul shot, SC has to call a time out! 20-6 GEORGIA.

10:09! Beautiful rebound by Jeremy Price leads to a sick slammer!  UGA’s playing with confidence and attempts an alley-oop for the fans!

11:00!  Some crazy passing by D-WARE leads to a nasty three by Thompkins!

11:33 at the timeout. UGA’s playing 2, Marcus Thorton; 3, Dustin Ware; 4, Chris Barnes; 15, Donte’ Williams; and 22 Gerald Robinson JR.  SC works with 5, Smith; 12, Galloway; 23, Ellington; 24, Harris; and 30 Jackson.  Timeout’s over, more ball to play!

13:12 SC comes up short in the paint thanks to a hand by Robinson, but retains possession through the substitutions.  A long three gives UGA the ball, but a tipped pass leads to a missed shot, and SC responds with a bucket.  12-6 Georgia at another timeout.

13:56 SC extends their second foul (non-shooting) by means of #5 Eric Smith.  And Georgia’s been pummeling a steady game, upping us to 12-4.

15:46 Timeout taken as the DanceDawgs entertain.  This game is being Televised on Fox Sports South, you can tune your dials to the Bulldog Radio Network WSB 750AM and 95.5FM in Atlanta, and 960AM in Athens, or follow the live stats at http://www.georgiadawgs.com

16:50 Robinson almost rebounds his own shot, with an airborn grace! It’s 5-4 Georgia.

17:40  Thompkins gets a great look over an SC head and sinks it!

18:45 Quick passing from SC comes up short and a crowd-unapproved travel negates a Georgia basket.

Starting for GEORGIA today:
1, Travis Leslie
3, Dustin Ware
22, Gerald Robinson Jr.
33, Trey Thompkins
50, Jeremy Price

Starting for S. CAROLINA:
2, Brain Richardson
15, Malik Cooke
23, Bruce Ellington
24, Damontre Harris
44, Sam Muldrow

Georgia gets the tip! And Ware sinks a quick three!

Pre-Game:

HERE WE GO, BULLDAWG NATION!

MORE MUSIC to rev up the fans! As the Battle Hymn sings, the pumping hearts and extended fingers bless the court in unison.  A LIGHTS-OUT STADIUM sets the tone for night, and UGA welcomes the team out, but not without some opinions towards the SC players.  FLAGS ARE FLYING across the court!  2:54 till tip-off!

The National Anthem leads us to 10:03 till tip-off followed by a hearty “Go Dawgs!” echoing from the student section.  Pom-poms are sparkling and the seats start turning into fans on this beautiful Saturday in the Classic City.

At 18:30 till tip-off, the Jumbo-Tron starts capturing the energy of hosting South Carolina in Athens.   The Dawgs are putting practice shots away with a resounding focus and sight.  Determination is etched into the faces of a team ready to follow up from an away game, notably a 48 hour turnaround since the match with #13 Florida.

We’re 24:08 till tip-off.  Georgia’s carrying a 7-6 SEC record, 18-9 overall.  South Carolina’s sitting at 5-8 SEC, 14-12 overall.  Head Coach Mark Fox’s two home games away from closing his second season at Georgia, with 32 wins and 26 losses.  The team’s strong this year, and combined with strong coaching, the buzz on campus has been more vibrant than in past years.

As the team heads to the locker room and the young kids start practicing their ridiculous free-throw hook shots, Stegeman is filling up with glorious Red and Black.  The band kicks off a “Glory! Glory! to Ol’ Georgia!” and the fans raise their energy to welcome the Dawgs back on the court.  The announcer issues a warning of maintaining politeness in this game, possibly after the fan discord of the Xavier game.  Hopefully, towels stay in the stands today.