UGA edged by other Bulldogs

Weatherspoon’s late free throw lifts Mississippi State.

Georgia’s Tyree Crump drives against Mississippi State during Wednesday’s game at Stegeman Coliseum. The MSU Bulldogs took control with a 19-0 run but needed a late free throw for a 68-67 victory.

ATHENS — Mississippi State scratched out a 68-67 win against Georgia on Wednesday night in the battle of Bulldogs at Stegeman Coliseum.

Mississippi State won the game at the free-throw line in the final second.

Quinndary Weatherspoon made 1 of 3 freethrow attempts with 0.5 seconds left after he was fouled by Jordan Harris on a shot attempt.

Weatherspoon was granted an extra free-throw attempt because a technical was called on UGA after a fan threw an item on the court.

Mississippi State (19-7, 7-6 SEC) used a 19-0 run to pull away in the final stages of the first half and opening minutes of the second half before the crowd of 7,153.

Coach Ben Howland’s team came from 25-23 down to take a commanding 42-25 lead on Weatherspoon’s drive at the 18:31 mark.

Georgia (10-16, 1-12 SEC) roared back, tying it at 67 on Tyree Crump’s 3-pointer with 9.3 seconds left.

UGA couldn’t finish the job, dropping its seventh consecutive game since a 98-88 win over Texas on Jan. 26.

Weatherspoon scored a career-high 31 points on 11-of-19 shooting. He also made a pair of free throws with 15.6 seconds left to give Mississippi State a 67-64 lead.

UGA star Nicolas Claxton, who entered the night one of five Division I players leading his team in all five major statistical categories, finished with nine points and nine rebounds.

Claxton didn’t score until the 3:54 mark, giving Georgia a 24-20 lead.

Moments later, Claxton committed his second foul, and coach Tom Crean made what proved to be a critical decision to take him out of the game, contributing to the key MSU run.

Mississippi State held a 36-25 lead at halftime, breaking away with the 16-1 run the final 3:16.

Weatherspoon scored 12 of those 16 points as Mississippi State made its final seven shots of the first half.

Georgia committed four of its seven opening-half turnovers in the final 3½ minutes.

Georgia returns to action at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Ole Miss (SEC Network). The Rebels beat the Bulldogs 80-64 in Athens on Feb. 9. It’s the first of five regular-season games remaining for Georgia, which returns home for a game against Auburn at 9 p.m. Wednesday.