Bulldogs squeak by LSU behind late free throws

Down 80-79, UGA’s Frazier draws foul with 1.6 seconds left.

ATHENS — It was almost Georgia’s worst loss of the season. It ended up being yet another defining moment for its diminutive star guard.

LSU, which entered with one win in SEC play, rallied from 16 points down Saturday to take the lead by one with time running out.

It had the ball when a missed shot led to a frantic set of tips at the basket. The ball finally went out of bounds with 6.7 seconds left, ball to Georgia, which had one final chance.

The inbounds pass went to J.J. Frazier, as everyone expected. He darted downcourt and attacked the basket.

As he tried a reverse layup, a foul was called with 1.6 seconds left.

He made the first free throw to tie the score.

He made the second, and Georgia led again, bringing a roar from the crowd. A timeout was called.

LSU tried to heave it downcourt, but the pass was off, and Georgia’s Derek Ogbeide picked it off and was fouled. After a review, he made the first free throw, then missed the second, and LSU’s prayer heave missed.

Georgia (17-12, 8-8 SEC) had barely escaped a loss to LSU (9-19, 1-15), winning 82-80.

Player of the game: Frazier again did all he could in the absence of Yante Maten, Georgia’s leading scorer who is out with a sprained knee. The senior guard had a game-high 29 points, and kept answering LSU baskets with big ones of his own in the second half.

Stat line of the game: LSU outrebounded Georgia 33-29, including 19-13 in the second half.

Turning point: Georgia’s lead had been dwindling for a while when, with 6:21 left, Frazier picked up his fourth foul on an LSU 3-point attempt. The ensuing free throws tied the score. Georgia went back up by six briefly, but the offense and rebounding stalled. A putback by LSU’s Wayde Sims gave the Tigers their first lead since early in the first half. On the other end, a Frazier drive was blocked, and the Tigers scored to make it a three-point game. Then Frazier fed Derek Ogbeide for a layup, setting up the frantic final 45 seconds.

What’s next: Georgia’s final home game of the regular season, as Auburn visits at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Georgia won at Auburn in late December.