For the third time in as many weeks, Georgia came back from a significant second half deficit to win an SEC home game, this time a 76-70 win over Alabama. “We’ve had good Saturdays and today was a good win,” said head coach Mark Fox. “I was really proud of our team for just the determination that they showed in the second half.”
A 14-2 run down the stretch eliminated a nine-point deficit and gave the Dawgs a 65-61 lead that they would not relinquish.
Georgia star forward Trey Thompkins, who led all scorers with 21, took over down the stretch for the Bulldogs and scored 15 second half points to key the comeback. Thompkins also pulled in a career-high 17 rebounds for Georgia.
“My teammates needed me to rebound and score tonight,” said the sophomore from Lithonia. “That’s what I have to do. If my teammates want that, I give it to them.”
The Fox Hounds overcame a one-sided free throw disparity that lasted through midway through the second period, as the SEC leaders in percentage at the charity stripe had made just two of 11 attempts through the 6:25 mark. Bama, on the other hand, had nailed 17-21 attempts at the same point in the game.
However, the Dawgs rebounded from the line to hit 11-13 down the stretch and finish at 13-24 for the game.
“It’s a game where at one point we were shooting nearly 30% from the free throw line,” recalled Fox. “This is a team that’s shot so well from the line. We were just so determined to come back and win and I was really pleased with our effort in the second half.”
The second half surge was ignited by five quick points by Travis Leslie to cut the deficit to 52-44 with 10:48 left. The Dawgs would pull to within four at 54-50 with 8:15 remaining prior to a mini-spurt by Bama to push the lead back to nine at 59-50.
But the Dawgs weren’t done.
Thompkins would reel off 11 of Georgia’s next 15 points to help erase the Bama lead and give the Dawgs a 65-61 lead with 2:15 left. The next trip down, Dustin Ware sealed the victory for the Dawgs with a three-point dagger to give Georgia a 68-63 lead with just 1:24 left.
Georgia has now won all five games played on Saturdays in the state of Georgia, with four coming at Stegeman Coliseum and another coming at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth.
The Bulldogs out-rebounded, shot better from the field, and held a 19-8 advantage in assists over the visiting Tide. However, Alabama shot 78% from the line, making 21-27, as well as nabbing 12 steals to the Bulldogs’ two.
The affair was somewhat ugly and physical as the teams were whistled for a combined 40 personal fouls. Chris Hines of Alabama fouled out while three Bulldogs collected four fouls each.
Georgia (12-13, 4-8) will hit the road on Thursday for a date with Vandy (20-5, 9-2) in Nashville.
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