Dogs able to rally against Cats in a second-half resurgence

Georgia basketball player K.D. Johnson (0) during a game against Missouri at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Ga., on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (Photo by Tony Walsh)

Athens, GA. - Georgia was able to come back from a double-digit deficit to defeat No. 19 Missouri, 80-70, on Wednesday night in Stegeman Coliseum. 

The Bulldogs (13-8, 6-8) snapped a two-game losing skid and won their first matchup against a ranked opponent this season. Georgia has now won four of six in conference play over the last two weeks. On the other hand, the Tigers (13-6, 6-6) suffered their third straight loss in conference competition. 

The Bulldogs trailed the Tigers by 13 with 15:36 left in the second half, although that didn’t stop Tom Crean’s squad from giving up. The Bulldogs’ strong second-half effort is partially due to Missouri’s Mark Smith being taken out of the game earlier on in the final period. Smith picked up two fouls within 30 seconds and Tigers’ head coach Cuonzo Martin pulled the veteran guard. That’s when Georgia turned up the heat and went on a 25-7 run over the next eight minutes. 

Using a bizarre lineup in that span, Georgia head coach Tom Crean said the team played with extreme grit and aggression. 

“We needed to change momentum,” he said. “It wasn’t about positions as much then as it was about energy, toughness and movement.” 

The lineup included Sahvir Wheeler, Justin Kier, KD Johnson, Jackson Etter and Andrew Garcia. 

“Anytime we have Jackson [Etter] and KD [Johnson] in there, they bring an energy level and a competitiveness level that I think helps the guys,” Crean said. “So, it was a makeshift lineup that’s not based on who’s guarding who, but who’s going to fight, compete, get on that glass. In Jackson’s case, the way he steps up and draws charges, those are really important things.” 

Speaking of Etter, the walk-on scored seven of his nine points on the big run. In fact, Etter scored his final field goal on a three-pointer that cut Missouri’s lead to just two with 11:17 left. The Tigers marched right back down the floor as Smith nailed a triple to extend the lead to five, but Kier followed with one of his own to put Georgia within striking distance. On the ensuing possession, the Tigers turned the ball over and Johnson hit an open layup to tie the game at 53 apiece. 

Missouri’s Xavier Pinson responded with a quick jumper, but that was the last lead his team would take. The Bulldogs finished out the last nine minutes of play outscoring the Tigers 26-15. Missouri was able to respond and tie the game at 60, but Georgia was just too much down the stretch. 

Sophomore forward Toumani Camara added six straight points for the Bulldogs to solidify the victory. 

“I believe it’s something that coach Crean mentioned in the huddle, which was that the most desperate team will come up and win the game,” he said. “We were coming off two losses and they were coming from two losses. We just stayed true to ourselves. They played a great game, but I feel like we really connected on the court and everybody was playing their part. The ball was moving like it needed to. It was just a great game for us, especially coming off the losses.” 

It was in fact a team win as Georgia had five players in double figures: Kier (16), Camara (15), Garcia (13), Wheeler (12) and Johnson (10). Etter (9) and graduate transfer P.J. Horne (5) were the only other players to score in the win. 

Georgia will return to action against Florida (10-6, 6-5) in Gainesville on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EST.

Video from Tom Crean’s postgame presser:

Final stats: