Georgia @ Arkansas preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 23, 2018 ) Arkansas 80, Georgia 77

It would be unrealistic to expect Georgia to replicate its torrid shooting performance from Saturday when it travels to Arkansas on Tuesday, but the Bulldogs bring plenty of momentum into the matchup after a 98-88 home victory over Texas. Georgia, which has struggled at times offensively under first-year coach Tom Crean, hit 66.7 percent of its shots from the field – the fourth-best mark in school history – and finished 12-of-17 from 3-point range.

“I can’t even tell you how huge the game was for us in terms of building confidence,” Georgia sophomore forward Nicolas Claxton told reporters after the Bulldogs placed five players in double figures, led by junior guard Tyree Crump’s 21 points (including a career-high six 3-pointers). The Razorbacks need a boost after losing for the fifth time in six games Saturday, a 67-64 defeat at No. 15 Texas Tech. A late Arkansas surge trimmed a double-digit deficit to three points with 26 seconds left, but an ill-timed turnover ended any upset hopes. “We were trying to get a quick score, and then we didn’t even get a shot off, so that’s disappointing,” Arkansas coach Mike Anderson told the media afterward.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT GEORGIA (10-9, 1-5 SEC): Crump’s big performance Saturday lifted his scoring average into double figures at 10.4 points per game. Georgia’s frontcourt continues to lead the way for the Bulldogs as sophomore Rayshaun Hammonds averages 13.2 points and 6.4 rebounds, and Claxton contributes 12.8 points and SEC-leading 9.4 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. Claxton scored 16 of his 18 points Saturday in the second half while Hammonds finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.

ABOUT ARKANSAS (11-8, 2-4): Sophomore forward Daniel Gafford is the Razorbacks biggest offensive weapon, the tallest player on the roster (6-11) leading the team in scoring (16.2 points per game), rebounding (9.2) and field-goal percentage (65.9 percent). Freshman guard Isaiah Joe is second in the SEC in 3-point shooting (43.3 percent) while averaging 14.4 points per game. Gafford scored 14 points to lead Arkansas in Saturday’s loss, after missing significant time in the first half with foul trouble.

TIP-INS

1. Slowing down the opposition has been an issue for both teams: Arkansas is 12th in the SEC in scoring defense (72.7 points per game allowed) while the Bulldogs are 14th (74.2).

2. The Razorbacks shot 4-for-19 from 3-point range Saturday.

3. Arkansas outlasted Georgia 80-77 in double-overtime last season in Athens, and at home owns a 10-3 advantage in the series.

PREDICTION: Arkansas 79, Georgia 77