Momentum is building in Athens as the Georgia Bulldogs (19-8, 7-7 SEC) followed their first win at Kentucky in seventeen years with a 91-80 win against the Texas Longhorns (17-10, 8-6 SEC) in a sold-out Stegman Coliseum Saturday afternoon.
Texas came into the game having won six of its last seven, including a five-game winning streak and an 87-67 victory over the Bulldogs in January. In that match, Georgia was outscored 57-30 in the second half and shot only 43% from the field and 32% from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs’ improved field-goal efficiency was a significant factor in their win over the Longhorns in the rematch.
Jeremiah Wilkinson notched 19 points while shooting 50% from three-point range off the bench, and Marcus “Smurf” Millender had 15 points along with 5 assists.
Along with Wilkinson and Millinder, Georgia had 3 other players score in double digits. Kanon Catchings and Somto Cyril had 13 points, and Blue Cain had 12 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds. The Bulldogs’ overall defensive effort was strong in the game, forcing 9 turnovers from Texas and blocking 6 shots.
The Bulldogs started the game hot on both ends of the court. Georgia forced several difficult shots and a shot clock violation while shooting 4-5 from three to build a 19-9 lead, which prompted a Texas timeout with 12:27 remaining in the first half. Coming out of said timeout, suffocating defense from Blue Cain coaxed a double-dribble from Texas forward Camden Heide, which was the 6th Texas turnover of the half. The Longhorns did not score any points from the field between 13:16 and 6:42 of the first half, allowing the Bulldog lead to climb to as high as 18. Georgia ended the first half up 45-35.
Georgia opened the second half by converting on their first six shot attempts, including dunks from Jeremiah Wilkinson and Somto Cyril. Georgia leads the nation in team dunks, and Cyril leads among players. The Bulldogs tallied four rim-rockers against the Longhorns. However, Texas got back into the game by getting to the free-throw line and forcing Bulldog turnovers. In particular, the Bulldog big men found themselves in foul trouble with both Somto Cyril and Dylan James picking up their fourth foul early in the second half.
Texas tied the game 67-67 with 7:37 left, but quick buckets from third-string big man Justin Abson restored the lead. While his game stats won’t pop out at you, Abson, coming in cold off the bench, heavily contributed to stopping the Texas comeback with his defensive play and interior scoring. Blue Cain brought Stegman Coliseum to life with a fast-break and-one off a Texas turnover, and the Georgia lead would not fall below six for the rest of the game.
The win provides a significant boost to Georgia’s case for an NCAA tournament berth as both teams found themselves on the upper end of the “bubble” with most outlets ranking Texas above Georgia in their tournament projections. It also brings Georgia within one game of sixth place in the SEC standings.
On Wednesday, the Bulldogs will travel to Nashville to face 19th-ranked Vanderbilt, then return home to face South Carolina and 25th-ranked Alabama. They will end the regular season against Mississippi State in Starkville. ESPN’s Basketball Power Index (BPI) ranks Georgia’s remaining schedule the easiest in the SEC.
Main Photo:
Leave a Reply