The Georgia basketball squad lacks much, but not toughness and grit, and that, after all, is what being a Bulldog is all about.
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The Georgia basketball team, playing without Kenny Gaines, stopped and started and puffed and wheezed within sight of the station this afternoon, finally shoving aside the War Eagles 64-61 in Auburn for the Dawgs twentieth win of the season.
It is the Georgia basketball team’s first consecutive 20-win season since a string of three in 1996-98.
Congrats to @UGABasketball’s Charles Mann for scoring his 1,000th career point as a Bulldog today at Auburn! pic.twitter.com/6e9jIAAIK8
— Georgia Bulldogs (@UGAAthletics) March 7, 2015
Charles Mann led the Dawgs down the stretch with a 100% shooting effort from the field and the line in the final 15 minutes to score 13 of his 15 points. He also claimed his 1000th point as a Bulldog.
J.J Frazier led Georgia with 16, six in the final 10 minutes also without missing. Nemi Djurisic kept the Dawgs in the game all day with 14 points. If Ole Miss somehow loses to Vanderbilt, Georgia will steal the third spot in the SEC Tourney. The more likely outcome of an Ole miss win gives the Dawgs the fifth seed in the tourney.
If Vandy beats Ole Miss, the 3-6 seeds are:
— Around the SEC (@AroundTheSEC) March 7, 2015
3. UGA
4. LSU
5. Texas A&M
6. Ole Miss
Mar 7, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Georgia Bulldogs guard Charles Mann (4) takes a shot over Auburn Tigers guard KT Harrell (1) during the first half at Auburn Arena. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Complicating the task of winning on the road was the absence of Kenny Gaines who is day-to-day with an ankle sprain. Complicating it further, the Bulldogs committed 21 fouls, keeping Marcus Thornton, Yante Maten, and Charles Mann on the bench much of the first half.
The unsung heroes tonight are Taylor Echols, Houston Kessler and Juwan Parker who played their roles well enough to give the Dawgs a three point half-time lead and to hold off Auburn’s second half attack, allowing Georgia’s closers step in late and knock the Tigers out in the last seconds.
Ruining Auburn’s Senior Night added a little sugar to the moment and a nice little pay back for the home embarrassment the Tigers handed Georgia. And knowing the Dawgs will play at least two more games and claim an NCAA watch while the Tigers remember their last game of the year will bring smiles around the Bulldog Nation.