Georgia basketball desperately needed a positive outcome to salvage their season. Heading into Tuesday night’s rivalry game against Florida, the Bulldogs faced a must-win scenario to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive—a challenge that would be anything but easy.
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The biggest obstacle for Mike White and his team was Florida, the No. 3-ranked squad in the nation, which had already dominated Georgia earlier in the season with a 30-point victory.
With only four SEC wins entering the matchup, Georgia had struggled with a recurring issue all season. The Bulldogs often started strong and remained competitive through halftime, but second-half adjustments—or the lack thereof—consistently proved to be their downfall. Tuesday night was no exception to this pattern.
Georgia hangs on in dramatic fashion
Everything seemed to go perfectly for Georgia in the first half. The Bulldogs shot nearly 70% from the field and put up an impressive 51 points before halftime. At one point, Georgia built a commanding 26-point lead, though Florida managed to cut into the deficit. Still, the Bulldogs entered the break with a strong 51-35 advantage.
Georgia Faces a Must-Win Game
Desperate for a positive outcome to keep their season alive, Georgia entered Tuesday night’s showdown against rival Florida knowing a victory was essential to preserving their NCAA Tournament hopes. However, the task was daunting.
Florida, ranked No. 3 in the country, had already handed Georgia a crushing 30-point defeat earlier in the season. The Bulldogs, with just four SEC wins, had battled a recurring issue—strong starts followed by second-half struggles that often cost them games. Tuesday night seemed to follow that same pattern.
Georgia Holds On in a Thriller
Despite their dominant first half, Georgia’s lead steadily dwindled after the break. Florida surged ahead late, taking an 80-78 lead with just a minute remaining. But Blue Cain came through in the clutch, draining a crucial three-pointer to put Georgia back in front—a lead they refused to surrender.
Moments later, Asa Newell came up with a key steal, and a series of free throws sealed the Bulldogs’ dramatic 88-83 victory, keeping their postseason dreams alive.
