ATHENS – Georgia basketball added another gritty SEC upset win to its resume to stay perfect at home this season.
The Bulldogs (12-4, 2-1 SEC), who entered as 2.5-point underdogs, wrestled a 58-50 victory away from Mississippi State in one of their best defensive performances of the season.
They are now 10-0 at home, making them the sixth team in school history with a double digit win streak.
UGA rode a 12-5 run in the game’s final 2:39 to pull away in a contest with 14 lead changes. The Bulldog defense capped a commanding performance in the final stretch as State (12-4, 1-3) was 2-of-8 shooting from the field.
Scoring became that much more difficult for the Maroon Bulldogs late in the game as an electric crowd of 7,741 at Stegeman Coliseum produced thunderous noise.
“I thought they were a really big factor in the win, especially defensively,” Georgia coach Mike White said.
Georgia, which led 46-45 before the run, scored the rest of its points from the free throw line. The Bulldogs were perfect, sinking all 12 shots to put Mississippi State to bed.
“A little swagger at the foul line, it’s awesome,” White said. “It gives you chances in close games. Our guys continue to step up there with confidence.”
Terry Roberts, who was held scoreless in the first half, exploded for a team-leading 16 points with 3 rebounds and 3 assists.
Fellow guard Justin Hill delivered several clutch plays of his own to help Georgia keep pace. The Longwood transfer nailed two 3-pointers and a layup to reclaim the lead three different times.
“He’s gaining confidence and he’s got to continue to gain it,” White said. “He’s a good shooter ... we’ve got to continue to get those contributions off the bench.”
UGA’s defensive domination started with neutralizing Mississippi State leading scorer Tulo Smith in the paint. The 6-11, 245 pound All-SEC preseason selection, who entered Athens averaging 14.2 points and 7.8 rebounds, was limited to 5 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists.
That was largely due to a lockdown defensive performance from Braelen Bridges, who finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.
It was a particularly memorable night for the Atlanta native as he eclipsed 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in the 100th game of his career. Bridges, who transferred from UIC in March of 2021, leads UGA in rebounds this season.
Georgia gained a narrow 20-19 halftime advantage after a rocky first half for both offenses.
It was UGA’s second time allowing under 20 points in a first half this season. The Bulldogs limited Saint Joseph’s to 15 points in a November tournament game.
The Maroon Bulldogs were forced to make shots from outside the paint and finished the half 7-of-32 shooting from the field.
Georgia was not much better, shooting 5 of 25. The Bulldogs also surrendered 10 turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
A pair of 3-pointers courtesy of Jusuan Holt and Roberts highlighted an 11-0 Georgia run from the 9:52 mark to 3:34 remaining in the first half. Mississippi State quickly responded with eight unanswered points of their own.
UGA gained its slight edge from the free throw line, making 7 of its 12 shots while Mississippi State shot just 2 of 10.
Georgia will look to earn its first SEC road win of the season at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Pavilion at Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. The Rebels (8-8, 0-3 SEC) fell to Mississippi State 64-54 last Saturday.
The game will provide a second homecoming in as many weeks for White, who played at Ole Miss. White, who coached Florida for six seasons before leaving to coach Georgia, returned to Gainesville last Saturday in an 82-75 loss.
The Bulldogs earned their first SEC win in their conference opener with a shocking upset of No. 21-ranked Auburn.
“We talked in the postgame that it’s a step,” White said. “A step for us is winning a hard-fought, physical, tough-nosed, gritty game versus a team that gets after you.
“The next step is at some point, we’ve got to break through on the road.”
