Skip to main content
Join Now
Team Avatar
Georgia

Georgia fights off Kentucky, upsets No. 6 Wildcats for first SEC win

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•01/07/25•

NickSchultz_7

Kentucky basketball vs. Georgia
© Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

As the saying goes, it’s tough to win on the road in the SEC. Kentucky learned that Tuesday night as Georgia held on for the upset victory.

The Wildcats got as close as five points in the second half, but the Bulldogs didn’t back down as UK went cold. That stretch proved to be the difference as Georgia got its first SEC win of the year, defeating Kentucky 82-69.

Georgia took full control of Tuesday’s game in the first half, shooting 48.4% from the field and going 5-for-12 from three-point territory. Kentucky also got into foul trouble, which sent the Bulldogs to the free throw line 12 times in the first 20 minutes – and they made every shot from the stripe.

That provided a cushion into the second half, which is when UK started to pick things up. However, it wasn’t enough, and the Wildcats dropped to 12-3 overall and 1-1 in SEC play with the loss. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, improved to 13-3 overall and 1-1 in league action.

Asa Newell led a balanced Georgia offense, scoring a team-high 17 points in the effort. Blue Cain had 15, and Silas Demary Jr. added 14, as well. As a group, Georgia shot 41.8% from the floor – including 7-for-24 from three-point territory – but a 29-for-39 showing from the free throw line played a big part in the upset victory.

As for Kentucky, Lamont Butler did all he could, going 8-for-13 from the floor for a game-high 19 points. Brandon Garrison added 13 while Otega Oweh reached double figures with 10 points on the night. The ‘Cats struggled from three-point distance, going just 6-for-22 from downtown.

Tuesday’s game shows the grind it’ll be in the SEC this year. All 16 teams in the league were in the Top 75 of the KenPom rankings, and seven of the Top 20 teams were from the conference entering Tuesday’s action.

For Kentucky, it was a tough way to follow up Sunday’s thrilling 106-100 victory over Florida at Rupp Arena. But for Georgia, Tuesday’s game was an opportunity to bounce back 63-51 road loss to Ole Miss. The Bulldogs will now look to ride momentum into Saturday’s matchup against Oklahoma while the Wildcats will stay on the road, taking on Mississippi State in Starkville on Saturday.