Georgia overcomes big deficit, falls to Florida in overtime
Georgia dropped a tough one on Saturday as the Bulldogs fell on the road 102-98 to Florida, but they didn’t go down without a fight. Overcoming a 21-point deficit in the second half, Mike White’s squad sent things to overtime thanks to contributions from RJ Melendez, Blue Cain and others.
Florida’s Will Richard and Zyon Pullin put the Gators over the top however in overtime as they combined for three straight scores to take things from a 1-point game to a separation of over two possessions. Their efforts helped lift Florida to the victory.
Melendez went for a career-high 35 points for Georgia while Micah Handlogten had a career-high of his own on the other side with 23 points and 17 rebounds. Handlogten was one of five Florida players to score at least 10. Just three other Bulldogs joined Melendez in double-figures with Russel Tchewa adding 15 of his own, Cain pouring in 14 and Justin Hill contributing 11.
How It Happened…
A sloppy first few minutes and a strong start from Florida resulted in the Gators jumping out to an early lead. Five of the first six baskets came at the rim as Florida set the tone on how the game would go in the paint with Will Richard shining early.
A Walter Clayton Jr. 3-pointer made it a 10-point game less than six minutes in, a double-digit margin that Florida would maintain the majority of the remaining minutes of the first half.
There were moments of hope for Georgia. The Bulldogs got it to single digits on an RJ Melendez 3-pointer, his second in as many trips down the court, just past the halfway point of the first frame. After a pair of baskets by Russel Tchewa and two free throws from Melendez, the separation was just five. However, an 11-0 run from the Florida duo of Richard and and Micah Handlogten got the Gators back out to a double-digit point lead.
Georgia got it to 10 right out of the halftime break on a 3-pointer from Jabri Abdur-Rahim, but Florida jumped right back on top of the Bulldogs and extended their lead to as many as 21.
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UGA didn’t go down without a fight however, getting within single-digits with 4:25 to go. The claw-back effort continued as Georgia trailed by just five with 2:02 to go. A 10-0 run including seven straight by freshman Blue Cain tied things at 85 with 49.4 remaining, erasing the 21-point deficit in 12:02.
After a stop in the final minute, the Bulldogs had the ball with the shot clock off and a chance to win the game, but a Justin Hill turnover ended up giving Florida the same opportunity. Richard’s attempt missed, and things headed to overtime.
Florida jumped out to a lead in overtime with a Zyon Pullin and-one 31 seconds into the extended action before the Bulldogs and Gators traded baskets. A 6-0 run from Richard and Pullin ultimately served as the difference with Florida leading by at least five until the final seconds. Melendez made it a 2-point game with a 3-pointer, but Pullin made a pair of free throws to end things.
Next up for Georgia, now 14-6 on the season and 4-3 in SEC play, is a game against a potential top-25 opponent on Wednesday in Athens as Alabama comes to Stegeman Coliseum. The Crimson Tide (13-6, 5-1 SEC) beat No. 8 Auburn earlier in the week and hosts LSU later today. Tip time between the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.
