COLUMBIA, S.C. – With yet another win, Georgia is another step closer to an NCAA berth many thought was so improbable just over a week ago.
But after Tuesday night’s 73-64 win at South Carolina, that’s precisely the position the Bulldogs find themselves in.
Georgia’s third straight win boosts the Bulldogs’ record to 19-11 and 7-10 in the SEC.
South Carolina made it close before the end.
Twice within the final 1:11, the Gamecocks would close within four, but each time, Georgia responded.
The final time came with 38 seconds left to play when Dylan James grabbed an offensive board and put it back up for two, extending Georgia’s lead to nine.
After leading by as many as 14 points in the first half, South Carolina turned up its defensive pressure and cut Georgia’s lead to just 49-47 with 9:34 left.
That’s when Blue Cain made a statement.
Back-to-back threes by the sophomore helped push Georgia’s lead back to 57-47, forcing a South Carolina timeout with 7:08 to play.
Silas Demary Jr. led the Bulldogs with 16 points, followed by Cain with 14 and Asa Newell with 11.
The Bulldogs started the game as they did against Texas, playing a complete first half and jumping out to a 40-20 lead.
Georgia led from the opening tip, getting seven points from Demary Jr. over the first five minutes to put the Bulldogs in front 15-10.
Demary Jr. wasn’t the only Bulldog to have shots fall.
At one point in the first half, Georgia was shooting as high as 71 percent and led by as many as 14 points at 38-24.
The Bulldogs did not give the Gamecocks any help.
Georgia turned the ball over just twice in the first half while holding a 19-13 rebounding edge over South Carolina, which shot 34.4 percent (11 of 32).
Georgia closes out its regular season on Saturday at noon against Vanderbilt. The Bulldogs will then prepare for the SEC Tournament in Nashville at Bridgestone Arena. Georgia will play on March 12 against a still-to-be-determined opponent.