Georgia Basketball Finds Its Mann, Beats Ole Miss
The Georgia basketball team defeated a determined Ole Miss team in a test of basketball wills, 69 – 64 in the Stegeman Coliseum.
Georgia has missed all seven of its 3-point tries. Ole Miss leads 26-21 with 1:42 left in first.
— Marc Weiszer (@marcweiszer) January 21, 2015
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Georgia, playing its third game in six days, opened with concrete in its shoes against a seasoned Ole Miss team . Resembling in no way the firey squad that downed Florida on Saturday, Georgia shot poorly and relied on an habitually stubborn defense to stay within six point of the Rebels at the half.
Two top defensive teams in a pitchers duel- 9-9.
— Richard Gnann (@DreamingRedcoat) January 21, 2015
Without the yeoman effort of Marcus Thornton to score 11 points in the first half, the second half would be academic. The Dawgs barely challenged the veteran crusty Ole Miss guards for the last 8 minutes of the first half. Desperately needing someone to step forward, they found their man.
Charles Mann and the Bulldogs rallied past Ole Miss 69-64 to win their third straight SEC game Tuesday! #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/ZJxIsM35ML
— Georgia Bulldogs (@UGAAthletics) January 21, 2015
As he did against Florida, Charles Mann roared out of the Bulldog locker room and scored his first eight points of the game in the first 5 minutes of the second half and the Dawgs caught the Rebels.
With the team ignited, Cameron Forte went to work igniting the crowd. As he did against the Gators, Forte found opportunities where others would not. For the second consecutive night, Forte brought the home crowd to its feet with a crafty, hustle steal and a dazzling drive.
Once Forte and Mann put the game in the Dawgs hands, Georgia relied on its usual method, calling on gritty team defense, well spotted three point baskets by Gaines and Frazier, and crowd pleasing assists by Frazier and Mann.
The veteran Ole Miss team would not quit and with Stefan Moody’s 26 points, the Rebels forced the Dawgs to the foul line. And there the Dawgs began to falter, missing the front of end of two one and one’s and making 2 of 6. But again Mann stepped forward, drawing a charge with 35 seconds to play and giving the ball to Georgia. Frazier and Djurisic then closed the deal at the foul line.