A Limping Georgia Basketball Team Whips Vandy in Nashville 70-67
The history of Georgia basketball is woefully short of “Glory Glory” moments. The Dawgs added one tonight.
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With Juwan Parker watching helplessly from the bench and Kenny Paul Geno and Yante Maten home in Athens, the Georgia Bulldogs limped into Nashville and found heroes galore in a gritty 70-67 SEC win over the Vanderbilt Commodores.
The conversation has to start with the much maligned Charles Mann and Marcus Thornton. Shooting 61% on free throws between them on the season, the pair rose to the occasion to make seven of eight free throws tonight.
Moving from the maligned to the anonymous, little used and oft forgotten Taylor Echols came off the bench for significant first-half minutes to score six points on two of four shooting. Houston Kessler, playing on the same floor on which his uncle broke the Commodores heart with a buzzer beater, replaced Maten and scored two points while claiming two rebounds. Fred Iduwe also entered the fray, taking important minutes.
There was the fantastic as well. Despite sitting out the first half, Kenny Gaines time and again scored one on one to total 18 points while keeping the Bulldogs in control. J. J. Frasier, 5’10” 150 pounds, led the Dawgs in rebounds with six and tossed in 11 points, including five consecutive free throws during the Bulldogs last three offensive possessions to seal the win.
For the not to be overlooked, Nemi Djurisic added eight points and shot four for four from the free throw line and Cameron Forte made his only shot, scoring two, and claimed a rebound and an assist.
The veteran Bulldog team that a few nights ago played like pups in the final minute to throw away a game again stumbled late. But tonight the Dawgs gathered themselves and in the final seconds played with the poise and maturity of the veteran team it is.
Dogs make 11-12 FTs down stretch to win with 3 of top 8 out with injuries. Gators next on Saturday in Athens.
— Chip Towers AJC (@ctowersajc) January 15, 2015
A team that could have dropped its head and asked, “Why us?” stepped up to challenge the basketball fates and regain control of its destiny.
It’s a great night to be a Georgia Bulldog.