Bulldogs go long distance to upset Aggies

No. 2 Texas A&M has plenty of time to recover between the end of the Southeastern Conference tournament and the start of the NCAA Tournament on March 21, one more reason why the Aggies hoped to play all the way through the end of the league tournament in Greenville, S.C.

Top-seeded A&M’s desire of adding to its 2021 trophy collection ended Saturday, however, at the hands of fourth-seeded Georgia 74-68 in the semifinals of the SEC tournament. The Aggies, who had their 11-game win streak snapped, became the first SEC regular-season champion to not at least make the league title game since South Carolina in 2014.

The Lady Bulldogs (20-5) advance to play either second-seeded South Carolina or third-seeded Tennessee at 1 p.m. Sunday in the league championship game. The Gamecocks and Lady Volunteers play Saturday night. Georgia, which will compete in the SEC tournament championship game for the first time since 2004, also avenged a 60-48 loss at A&M on Jan. 31.

A big difference Saturday occurred from the 3-point line: Georgia finished 8 of 14 on 3pointers while A&M was 4 of 14 from long range. Georgia defeated a top-five opponent for the first time since 2013.

Despite the setback the Aggies (23-2) are still projected to be one of the four top seeds in the NCAA Tournament, which is being held in and around San Antonio because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A&M won its first SEC regular-season title last Sunday against South Carolina in Reed Arena. A&M joined the powerful women’s basketball conference in 2012.

Sean Rayford / Associated Press Gary Blair and top-seed Texas A&M lost to fourth-seed Georgia in the Southeastern Conference semis. The Aggies’ winning streak ended at 11, but they’re likely a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tourney.