Georgia Bulldogs vs Florida Gators Match Player Stats On Mar 02, 2019

Slender sophomore forward Nicolas Claxton scored a career-high 25 points and Georgia ended a nine-game losing streak with a 61-55 upset of Florida Saturday night in a matchup of Southeastern Conference rivals in Gainesville, Fla.

Guard Jordan Harris scored on a driving layup with 27.6 seconds remaining to give the Bulldogs a 4-point cushion and guard William Jackson hit two free throws with 13.0 seconds left to clinch the first win for the Bulldogs (11-18, 2-14) since a 10-point thumping of Texas on Jan. 26. The Bulldogs hadn't won an SEC game since Jan. 9 over Vanderbilt.

The loss dropped the Gators (17-12, 9-7) into a tie with four other teams for the fourth spot and double-bye in the upcoming league tournament. Guard Jalen Hudson, with 13 points off the bench, was the only Gator in double figures.

Leading by one at the half, the Gators scored the first six points of the second to complete a 10-run for a 34-27 cushion. They were up 39-33 before the Bulldogs began a comeback that netted them a 45-41 lead with under 8 minutes to go.

Florida went nearly nine minutes without a field goal, but guard Andrew Nembhard's layup and Hudson's jumper got the Gators within 51-50 with 4:13 remaining, but the Gators couldn't seal the deal down the stretch.

Forward Rayshaun Hammonds, Georgia's second-leading scorer entering the game, returned after missing the previous outing with a foot injury and was scoreless.

Nembhard, a starter all season, left the game with back spasms in the first half but started the second and finished with eight points for the Gators.

The Bulldogs started the game hitting 8 of their first 10 shots on their way to an early 10-point advantage, but still trailed at the break, mostly because of turnovers and a 3 of 10 finish to the period.

They committed 11 turnovers for the half which led to a 15-2 advantage for the Gators in second-chance points. The Gators had seven turnovers the first 20 minutes but didn't get their first lead until guard Mike Okauru hit a corner 3 for Florida's 28-27 halftime advantage.

The Bulldogs committed just four turnovers in the second half, however.

--Field Level Media