Field Level Media
Dec 1, 2021
Georgia's Kario Oquendo scored 24 points and Jabri Abdur-Rahim's 3-pointer with less than two minutes remaining helped give coach Tom Crean his 400th career victory, a 82-79 decision over No. 18 Memphis on Wednesday in Athens, Ga.
Abdur-Rahim scored 15 points on 4-for-8 shooting from the field, including 3-for-6 from long distance. Georgia's Christian Wright added 17 points and six rebounds, while Jailyn Ingram and Braelen Bridges contributed 10 points apiece.
Georgia (3-5) ended a four-game losing streak and finally enabled Crean to reach the milestone. He improved to 44-54 overall with Georgia after amassing 166 wins at Indiana from 2008-17 and 190 at Marquette from 1999-2008.
Trailing 70-65 following a dunk by Memphis' Jalen Duren with 5:22 remaining, the Bulldogs responded by going on a 13-7 run to take a 78-77 lead they wouldn't relinquish. Abdur-Rahim's 3-pointer from the top of the key put Georgia in front with 1:56 remaining.
Oquendo's steal-and-dunk on Memphis' ensuing possession pushed the lead to three, and Duren was called for an illegal screen on the Tigers' next possession, giving the ball back to Georgia with 1:19 remaining.
After Memphis (5-2) got the ball back, Landers Nolley II missed a free throw and Georgia put the game away when Ingram's free throw made it 81-77 with 17 seconds left.
Bates' running 3-point attempt from just inside half-court hit the rim as time expired.
Georgia shot 48 percent (24-for-50) from the field, including 35 percent (7-for-20) from beyond the arc.
Nolley scored a team-high 17 points to go along with four assists for the Tigers, who had six players finish in double figures, including Alex Lomax (14), Lester Quinones (12 points, five assists), Emoni Bates (11), DeAndre Williams (11 points, eight rebounds) and Duren (10).
The Tigers shot 46 percent (29-for-63) and 35 percent (7-for-20) from 3-point range.
Georgia point guard Aaron Cook missed the game because he was sick and the Bulldogs' struggled at times in his absence. Without Cook running the offense, the Bulldogs committed 13 turnovers that led to 16 Memphis points.
--Field Level Media