Once again, the Mississippi State Bulldogs couldn’t handle the Georgia Bulldogs, as Georgia defeated Mississippi State, 71-61. Georgia defeated State earlier in the season in a 70-68 OT thriller but this victory meant for Mark Fox’s team. The win prolongs the Dawgs season for another night when they face Vanderbilt in the quarterfinals.
Mississippi State started the game strong with a 14-7 lead over the Dawgs but Georgia stayed resilient. Guards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Gerald Robinson made most of the Dawgs’ offense and helped the team gain a 29-27 late in the first half. Georgia would go to halftime with a 31-29 lead.
Georgia basketball’s most perturbing trend this season has been a lack of second half scoring. This was not the case Thursday night. After missing his first three three-point attempts, Dustin Ware, who scored 13 points in the second half, connected on his next three to help the Dawgs pull away. Georgia held a 13 point lead with 8:12 left in the game but Mississippi State refused to be put away. State’s Jalen Steele scored 9 points during the rally and capped it off with a three-point jumper that had Georgia holding on to a 60-57 lead with 3:44 to go. Nemanja Djurisic scored four points in the next 90 seconds, extending Georgia’s lead to 64-57. State would not have another rally.
Robinson was once again the leading scorer for Georgia, finishing with 23 and five assists. Robinson and Caldwell-Pope, who finished with 13 points, both had double digit point totals in the first half. Georgia also received its first double-double of the season from Nemanja Djurisic. Djursic had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Winners of three of its past four, the Dawgs will try to upset Vanderbilt tonight at 10 pm.
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