ATHENS – Georgia’s basketball came down from 13 points in the second half to score over an opponent for the first time this season.
This is the first time the Bulldogs (13-8, 6-8 SEC) have come in the back half to win against an SEC opponent, and they have it against a veteran Tigers team (13-6, 6-6) done in Stegeman. Coliseum Tuesday night.
Justin Kier scored 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting to lead the five Bulldogs who scored in double figures.
“We came out today and really attacked,” Kier said. “I’m proud of this team.”
Toumani Camara again achieved a clutch performance with 15 points on 8 rebounds, including a crucial setback and a free throw on an And One after KD Johnson missed from the free-line with the game tied 62-62 and 4:55 left .
“It was desperation,” Camara said. “We lost two games, and we were hungry.
“This is how we should play every time, and there should be no question about it.”
Camara’s basket and free throw gave the Bulldogs the lead as it elicited a 16-2 run.
Sahvir Wheeler (12 points, 6 assists) knocked down a three-point leader on Georgia’s next ride to extend the UGA lead to 68-62 at the 4:19 mark and the Bulldogs were on the passage.
Johnson scored all 10 of his points in the final 9:21, including a drive to the basket that tied the game at 53-53 after the Tigers opened the second half on an 11-0 run to a build a 13-point lead.
Walk-on Jackson Etter was another key player, who came off the bench to score 9 points but also made 2 steals and leveled 3 errors on a night that UGA worked in the bonus with more if 13 minutes left.
Andrew Garcia scored 13 points, and the Bulldogs outscored Missouri by 24 when he was on the floor.
The Bulldogs shot 54.2 percent in the second half, including 5 of 6 outside the three-point mark during the final 20 minutes.
Missouri opened the second half 11-0, leading 48-35 with Dru Smith’s lead.
However, the Bulldogs responded with a 13-2 run to pull back to 50-48 on Jackson Etter’s 3-point lead from the corner at 11:17. Less than two minutes later, Johnson’s row tied it up.
Missouri led 37-33 at halftime after both teams shot hard.
The Tigers shot 14-of-34 and 3-15 of three, while the Bulldogs were 13-29 and 2-9, and the lead varied seven times.
Georgia returns to Florida on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The Bulldogs lost 92-84 at home to the Gators on January 23rd.
Florida lost 75-64 in Arkansas on Tuesday night.
