1/30/18 10:30pm
Resurrected from the Dead: Dawgs Upset Gators
Photo: Jason Getz/ USA TODAY Sports
By: Joshua Grosh
If there was ever a needed win – it had to be this one. With post season hopes on the line and the mental onus of a 4-game losing streak (with multiple blown leads), Georgia surged back to life to beat the #23 ranked Florida Gators. Multiple times Florida took back a lead and even went on a strong run to open the second half against Georgia, but the Dawgs did not give up. They showed more fight than they did in most of their recent games. Georgia fought back from Florida’s strong second half opening to take the lead and then solidify it to the tune of double digits – which Georgia would not relent after the last 83 seconds of the game. Despite Florida’s attempts, Georgia cashed in on most of its free throw attempts to seal a 12-point win for the Dawgs. Not only did Georgia need this win, but Mark Fox needed this win to try to cool off an increasingly hotter seat.
The key to the victory was a mixture of two things – defense standing tall and an offense finding life. Georgia did not allow itself to fall into a hole due to a mixture of this. The defense smothered Florida and would not allow them to have easy three-point shots, and even when they did most were just such out of synced that the Florida offense could not get going. Rayshaun Hammonds and Nicolas Claxton were key in this as they and Yante Maten helped to lead the team in rebounds. Nicolas Claxton did even better, blocking 3 shots and nailing a major three pointer to keep Georgia’s momentum going. The team played great defense overall and the offense came to life with three players breaking over 10 points.
Top Players for Georgia:
Yante Maten: 20 points, 7-14 FG, 1-3 3PT, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block.
William Jackson II: 16 points, 4-10 FG, 2-8 3PT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist.
Juwan Parker: 12 points, 4-10 FG, 2-5 3PT, 3 rebounds, 3 assists.
Nicolas Claxton: 5 points, 2-4 FG, 1-1 3PT, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks.
Look Ahead:
Georgia will play Mississippi State at Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, Mississippi on February 3rd at 6 P.M. Mississippi State is currently favored to win. Mississippi State is coming off a 1- point win over Mizzou.
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