Georgia Bulldogs Drop Conference Opener to No. 23 Arkansas
No. 23 Arkansas gets a breakthrough road win in Stegeman Coliseum, defeating the Georgia Bulldogs, 79-75.
Georgia came out hyped up and on fire at the opening tip, shooting 57% from the field, 67% from the three point strips and 80% from the free throw line. But Arkansas’ Bobby Portis kept Arkansas within seven at the half and when Georgia sagged in the second half, the Razorbacks pounced.
Georgia pushed lead to 13, but Razorbacks' Bobby Portis heating up now with 13 points. UGA leads 38-30 with 2:37 to go in first.
— Marc Weiszer (@marcweiszer) January 7, 2015
There will be much over-analyzing this loss, but in the end Georgia’s 16 turnovers –12 in the second half — to Arkansas’ 8 turnovers is the games storyline.
With 6:31 to play in the game the Razorbacks took the lead 63-61. The Dawgs continued to fight and the lead see-sawed to Arkansas’ favor and the Razorbacks made the passes, claimed the loose balls and tips and made the free throws (11-13) to seal the win.
Free throws will be a point of discussion around the watercoolor tomorrow as Georgia shot 67% – the season average. Arkansas, on the other hand, stepped out on the road and shot 84%, 12 percentage points above its season average.
Along with turnovers, Georgia failed on defense as well, allowing Arkansas to shoot 52% from the field for the game. With Georgia’s guards time and again ducking under the Arkansas screens, the Razorback guards stepped up and shot 57% on three pointers in the second half after shooting only 27% in the first half. Georgia demolished Arkansas on the boards, 40 rebounds to 25.
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In a team effort, Arkansas hit 12% above its season free throw average on the road. In a team effort, Georgia committed 16 turnovers, twice as many as Arkansas. One team lost, one team one.
This one will not require rocket science to explain: Bobby Portis kept the Hogs close, and when Georgia made lazy plays in the second half, a mature, talented Arkansas team took advantage for the break through road win Head Coach Mike Anderson has been seeking for over a year.