In much the same fashion as in its previous outing against Kentucky, the Georgia basketball team fell behind early against Mississippi State. Unlike in the contest against the Wildcats, however, Georgia was able to fight back and make the contest competitive. Still, the Bulldogs lost 67-61 for their sixth straight defeat. Ravern Johnson led Mississippi State with 21 points, while Ricky McPhee led Georgia’s second half comeback and finished with 15 points for the game.
“Obviously we got a terrific lift from Ricky scoring the ball,” said Georgia head coach Dennis Felton. “We fought back better than we did after that slow start against Kentucky.
All 15 of McPhee’s points came from behind the 3-point line, including 3’s in the second half that cut Mississippi State’s lead to 47-43 with 11:05 remaining and 52-50 with 7:21 remaining. “Just coming out in the second in the half I was able to get some easy looks and I was able to knock them down,” McPhee said. “People on the court were looking for me.”
It was the second time this season McPhee came off the bench to make Georgia more competitive in a game in which the Bulldogs needed a spark. McPhee had 11 points to help the Georgia beat Wofford 74-73 in overtime back on Dec. 20. But Mississippi State was just as hot as Georgia from 3-point range, and matched Georgia in making 9-of-24 3’s for the game, and would not relinquish the lead. A Dustin Ware 3-pointer got Georgia (9-10, 0-4) within 64-61 with 21 seconds left to play, but Mississippi State hit its free throws down the stretch to ice the game.
The Bulldogs from Starkville started the game on a 15-2 run and led by many as 19 in the first half. After a Johnson layup gave him his 21st-point Mississippi State led 35-21 as Johnson’s point total matched Georgia’s. Jeremy Price led Georgia in scoring in the half with six points and the Bulldogs trailed 36-24 at the intermission. Georgia shot 41 percent from the field, but was held back because of 16 turnovers. That helped Mississippi State (14-6, 4-1) hold an 18-7 advantage in points off turnovers. “I was pleased to be where we were at halftime, after turning the [ball] over 16 times and letting Johnson get 21,” Felton said. “I think we were there because we kept fighting. […] Even though we were down 12 at halftime, we had reason to feel better about ourselves going into the second half.”
Also unlike the Kentucky game, Trey Thompkins was not on the floor for to help Georgia counter the opposing team’s opening surge. Georgia started three guards to match up with Mississippi State’s four-guard lineup. Point guard Dustin Ware got the start in place of Thompkins and Reserves Chris Barnes, McPhee, Price and Travis Leslie all saw action before Thompkins, who scored three points in 10 minutes in the half and finished with seven points for the game on 1-of-8 shooting. The team’s second leading scorer has now failed to score in double figures in three consecutive games.
“I understood [Mississippi State] play a small lineup so there was a possibility I wouldn’t start. I was willing to do whatever I have to do for my team. Whenever coach calls my number I’m ready,” Thompkins said. “I’m going to stay confident. […] I may go a little bit harder knowing that I’m going to have to figure out how to play against a double team […]. I’m just going to have to work.”
The Bulldogs had five days off after the Kentucky game and started that break with a couple days to rest, as Felton traveled to Washington, D.C. for President Barack Obama’s inauguration. “He gave us about two days off,” Price said. “Everybody was just trying to get their mind focused and get their bodies focused for the next game.”
Felton says the days they did practice helped determined playing time for Saturday’s game. “Dustin just had an outstanding week,” Felton said. “Ricky has been really committed to playing to the wall, as hard as he can.”
Ware finished with 14 points in 37 minutes of action. Price was the third Georgia player in double figure points with 10.
The loss represents the first time Georgia has lost six games in a row since the 2004-05 season, also the last time the Bulldogs started 0-4 in SEC play. Georgia and Arkansas, both picked to finish last in SEC by the media, are the only winless teams in conference play. Georgia next travels to Gainesville to take on Florida on Wednesday night. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.
Butler can be reached at jbutler@scoreatl.com.
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