Field Level Media
Feb 19, 2020
Led by 18 points from freshman Anthony Edwards, Georgia upset No. 13 Auburn 65-55 Wednesday night in a Southeastern Conference game in Athens, Ga.
The victory pushes Georgia's record back to .500 at 13-13 overall, though only 3-10 in the SEC. Auburn, which dropped consecutive games for the second time this year, falls to 22-4 and 9-4.
For Georgia, Sahvir Wheeler and Rayshaun Hammonds added 13 each, followed by Toumani Camara with 12.
J'Von McCormick scored 22 points and Samir Doughty 15 to lead Auburn, which played its second straight game without touted freshman Isaac Okoro due to a recent hamstring injury.
With Georgia ahead by 10 with about 15 minutes to play, Auburn pulled to 37-31 about a minute later. The Tigers got even closer on back-to-back 3-pointers by McCormick to bring Auburn within three, 41-38 with 10:55 left.
After Georgia pushed the margin back to 45-40, head coach Tom Crean took a chance by taking Edwards out of the game for a breather. But the Bulldogs didn't bend.
Instead, Georgia used a baseline jumper by Tyree Crump to push the lead back to 47-40 before a layup by McCormick again made it a five-point game with 8:11 to play.
Auburn would draw within four on a 3-pointer by Doughty with 3:37 left but got no closer.
Georgia led 31-25 at the half, due largely to an abysmal start from the field by the Tigers, who shot only 29.4 percent (10 of 34).
If not for McCormick it would have been more.
The senior from New Orleans single-handedly brought the Tigers back from a 22-14 deficit and into a 23-22 lead by scoring nine straight points to push Auburn ahead.
But Georgia would answer.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Edwards and Wheeler spurred a 9-0 run by the Bulldogs to go back in front by eight before settling for the seven-point halftime lead.
Auburn returns to action at home Saturday against Tennessee, while Georgia travels to Vanderbilt the same day.
--Field Level Media