GEORGIA WINNING GAME!
The Dawgs hit the bell and Kentucky 🚨 pic.twitter.com/NhDaWEOvAf
– SEC Network (@SECNetwork) January 21, 2021
ATHENS – PJ Horne scored with a pass from the field by Sahvir Wheeler with 1.3 seconds left to lead Georgia to a 63-62 victory over Kentucky on Wednesday night.
“It’s great, it’s amazing to beat a team like Kentucky,” said Horne, a graduate transferred from Virginia Tech. “We came to battle.
“It is a great experience to hit a winner. It is my first time in college basketball. “
UGA’s first victory over Kentucky since 2013 broke what was a streak of 14 consecutive defeats in the series and led to the kind of commemorative loot typically reserved for March Madness.
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“We believed we were going to win,” said Crean. “I am proud of the way they crashed and executed in the end.”
Brandon Boston scored 18 to lead the United Kingdom, which saw its last desperate three-quarter throw from Keion Brooks (12 points) miss the bell.
The Bulldogs (9-4, 2-4 SEC) lost by six points with two minutes left against the Wildcats (4-9, 3-3) at the Stegeman Coliseum, but Georgia maintained its stance to win its second consecutive game in the league.
Freshman KD Johnson hit a 3-point basket with 1:49 left to cut Kentucky’s lead in half in 62-59.
Moments later, Wheeler put Andrew Garcia under the basket for a tray to pull Georgia into 62-61 with 33 seconds remaining.
Wheeler put Devin Askew, a freshman guard from Kentucky, on the line for the next trip.
Askew, the UK team’s best free-throw shooter with 82 percent, missed the free-throw situation with 23.5 seconds left, establishing UGA’s final possession.
Wheeler drove on the track in the final seconds, but his shot was rejected off the field by Isaiah Jackson, Kentucky’s sixth block of the night.
Coach Tom Crean asked for a 30-second timeout with 3.5 seconds remaining.
“When we took the time out, Coach Crean told everyone to stop and breathe three times,” said Garcia. “We took three breaths and went back to fighting.”
Wheeler’s first attempt to inbound the ball went awry and he was forced to ask for another time, prompting Crean to make another move in the pile.
The second time was the charm. The Bulldogs lined up in a straight line and Wheeler found Horne heading for the basket.
Horne, a six-foot post that spent most of the game at the perimeter chasing his 3-point shot, took care of the rest, placing the ball after swinging the pass initially.
Garcia, a graduate transfer from Stony Brook, led Georgia with 16 points and 6 rebounds.
Wheeler had 10 points and 7 assists, Johnson had 10 points and Justin Kier scored 7 points and had 5 of the Bulldogs’ 10 steals.
Georgia had a 30-27 lead at the break after leading with nine points.
Johnson dropped a 3-point basket at the 5:37 mark to crown a 10-0 straight and make it 26-17.
John Calipari called for time, and his team responded with an 8-0 run to recover with 26-25.
Wheeler, however, kept the UK in check during the break with two driving baskets while UGA maintained the lead in the break.
The Bulldogs return to action at 2pm against Florida in Athens.
The Gators (7-4, 4-3) come from a 75-49 home win over No. 6 Tennessee on Tuesday night.
