Georgia builds big lead, then holds off Vols
ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia finally figured out the best way to avoid another close loss was to build a bigger lead in the closing minutes.
Kentavious CaldwellPope scored 25 points and Georgia recovered after blowing an 11-point lead to beat Tennessee 78-68 on Saturday, ending the Vols’ six-game winning streak.
Georgia had lost four of its last five games, in- cluding in overtime at Ole Miss, by two points at Arkansas and by one point at Vanderbilt on Wednesday night after leading by 17 in the first half.
The Bulldogs had enjoyed no satisfaction for consistently having chances to win.
“It was important for us to get back off the mat,” Fox said.
“You have to get rewarded for doing it right. You have to have successes along the way.”
Georgia led by 12 with about 3 minutes remaining and kept the lead in double figures for the final Georgia forward Nemanja Djurisic and Tennessee guard Trae Golden fight for a loose ball during Saturday’s game. minute.
“The last couple of games we’ve left the ball in the opponents’ hands in the last couple of seconds,” said freshman Charles Mann, who had 18 points. “It felt good to have the big margin at the end.”
Mann called the win “a confidence-booster.”
“Tennessee is a heck of a team,” Mann said. “To get the win puts us back on track.”
Tennessee (17-11, 9-7) suffered its first defeat since losing to the Bulldogs 68- 62 in Knoxville on Feb. 6. Jordan McRae set career highs with eight 3-pointers and 35 points to lead the Vols before fouling out with about 1 minute remaining.
Georgia (14-15, 8-8) took its first regular-season sweep of the Vols since 2001. Mann made 12 of 14 free throws. Georgia made 22 of 26 attempts overall.
The Vols, who moved into NCAA tournament consideration with their longest winning streak of the season, were denied their first streak of seven straight SEC wins since 2008. Kenny Hall had 10 points but no other Tennessee player scored in double figures.
Trae Golden made only 1 of 10 shots from the field for four points, eight below his average. Skylar McBee missed his f irst seven shots before finally sinking a 3-pointer for his only points. Memphian Jarnell Stokes had eight points and 10 rebounds.
“Give Georgia credit defensively, but when we don’t get production from Trae and Jarnell, it’s going to be a long night,” said UT coach Cuonzo Martin.