Missouri let a five-point lead in overtime slip away in the final 2:30, as the Georgia Bulldogs knocked off the 21st ranked Tigers 70-64, Wednesday night at Mizzou Arena in the SEC opener for both teams.
Georgia coach Mark Fox said he wanted to see his team rebound better and they certainly did. The Bulldogs finished with a 43-34 advantage including 15 offensive rebounds. They also scored 40 points in the paint. As much as Mizzou struggled offensively, they didn’t play well on the defensive end as well.
Mizzou head coach Frank Haith was not happy with his team’s effort and didn’t hide his frustration with his team
AUDIO Haith talks about his team’s lack of effort (5:00)
Charles Mann led Georgia with 18 points, Djurisic finished with 16. Jabari Brown had 19 for the Tigers, including 12 in the second half and OT, but missed his final two, three-point tries. Earnest Ross had 15, Jordan Clarkson with 12.
Earnest Ross completed a three-point play with 2:53 left in OT to give the Tigers a 63-58 lead of the game. Twice, the Missouri defense broke down leaving Georgia center Nemanja Djurisic wide open under the basket to cut the lead to one. The Tigers then went 0 for 3 from three point range down the stretch as the Bulldogs pulled away by making five free throws down the stretch. Georgia was 8 of 20 at one point from the line and only finished 13 of 26 for the game.
Jordan Clarkson tied the game late in regulation with a three from the top of the key and had a chance to win it in the waning seconds of overtime.
The loss snaps a 26-game home winning streak, what was tied for longest in the nation.