University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia Wins Thriller Over South Carolina 48-47
February 23, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 23, 2006
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ATHENS, Ga. --- Led by freshman Billy Humphrey's reverse lay-up with 26 seconds remaining, Georgia knocked off South Carolina 48-47 in Stegeman Coliseum on Thursday night.
The Gamecocks (14-12, 5-8) took a 47-46 lead with 2:21 left in the game, but Georgia (15-11, 5-8) surged back to score the winning points and shut down South Carolina's last tries on offense. After Humphrey, who made the Bulldogs' only free throw attempt of the game, sliced through the lane for his shot, Georgia's defense responded by spoiling the Gamecocks last chances at winning.
Sophomore Younes Idrissi blocked a shot, sophomore Sundiata Gaines notched his third steal of the game and the Bulldogs' defense forced Renaldo Balkman to miss a shot at the buzzer on three consecutive possessions to clinch the team's 15th win of the year.
"This was a critical win for us," Georgia head coach Felton said. "Our guys were very hungry going into tonight's game. South Carolina is still in the hunt for the NCAA Tournament and it would not be out of the question for us to get in so this really was an enormous win after a couple losses."
In the opening half, the Bulldogs went on a 16-2 run and held the Gamecocks scoreless for 11:45. Freshman Mike Mercer started Georgia's scoring spree by dunking on 6-foot-8 Balkman and converting his free throw after he was fouled, which cut South Carolina's lead to 7-5. The Bulldogs went into the locker room leading 20-16.
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