Tuesday, February 16
Athens, Ga.
7:00 PM
University of Georgia
13-8,6-8SEC
80
vs
70
Missouri
13-6,6-6SEC
1
2
F
Missouri
37
33
70
Georgia
33
47
80
Resurgent Georgia Upsets No. 20 Missouri, 80-70
February 16, 2021 | Men's Basketball
ATHENS, Ga. – Despite trailing by 13 in the second half, the University of Georgia men's basketball team picked up its most impressive win of the season, topping No. 20 Missouri, 80-70, Tuesday evening before 1,638 fans at Stegeman Coliseum.
Graduate Justin Kier led Georgia (13-8, 6-8 SEC) with 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting, one of five Bulldogs in double-figures. Sophomore Toumani Camara tallied 15 points and a team-high eight rebounds, with graduate Andrew Garcia pitching in with 13 points. Sophomore Sahvir Wheeler posted 12 points and six assists, while freshman K.D. Johnson scored 10 points and notched four steals. Overall, the Bulldogs shot 49.1 percent from the field, including a 54.2 clip in the second half.
"I think the way we came back and got the momentum, the fact that we did it against such a good team, the fact that some guys were really on the attack, like Justin, K.D., Sahvir, Andrew, those things can only hopefully help us," said head coach Tom Crean following the game.
Both teams opened the game strong offensively, with Wheeler and Kier powering the Georgia attack in the early going. Kier continued to pick up buckets for the Bulldogs, quickly reaching double-figures in scoring and helping them take a five-point lead by the second media break. Using a 11-0 run, Missouri (13-6, 6-6 SEC) gradually worked its way back into the lead with seven minutes remaining in the half.
The Tigers continued to extend their advantage as the Bulldogs went over five minutes without a field goal, with Horne finally breaking the streak. Each team struggled to score in the closing moments of the first, with the exception of Garcia, who scored six unanswered to put Georgia back in front. The lead was short-lived, however, as a late 3-pointer gave Missouri a 37-33 lead at intermission.
Coach Crean
Missouri continued to stretch its lead in the second half, building a 13-point margin in the process by the first media timeout. Georgia attempted to get back into the contest at the foul line, quickly moving into the bonus and narrowing the gap to two on a 3-pointer from sophomore Jaxon Etter. The Bulldogs went on to knot the game at 53 as Johnson picked up a steal and drove for a fast break lay-in.
Georgia eventually regained the lead with consecutive triples from Horne and Kier, capping off a 21-5 comeback sequence. While Missouri was able to again tie the game, Camara helped keep the Bulldogs ahead with a dunk and a crucial three-point play following up on a missed free throw. Holding a narrow lead in the final minutes, Georgia stayed in front for good with timely steals and solid shooting from the charity stripe, sealing a season-defining win in the process.
"We needed to change momentum," said Crean about the small lineup used during the comeback. "It wasn't about positions as much then as it was about energy and toughness and movement. Anytime we have Jaxon and K.D. in there, they bring an energy level and a competitiveness level that I think helps the guys. It was a makeshift lineup, not based on who's guarding who, but who's going to fight, compete, get on that glass, and in Jaxon's case, the way he steps up and draws charges. Those are really, really important things."
Georgia returns to the road this weekend for a matchup against rival Florida (10-6, 6-5) on Saturday, Feb. 20 at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida. The meeting with the Gators is set for a 3:30 tip time and will be broadcast on SEC Network.
Georgia head coach Tom Crean
On the lineup used during the second half run…
"We needed to change momentum. It wasn't about positions as much then as it was about energy and toughness and movement. Anytime we have Jaxon [Etter] and K.D. [Johnson] in there, they bring an energy level and a competitiveness level that I think helps the guys. It was a makeshift lineup, not based on who's guarding who, but who's going to fight, compete, get on that glass, and in Jaxon's case, the way he steps up and draws charges. Those are really, really important things. And so, we played basically played about eight guys in that span and were able to figure it out. After the timeout we took, I thought they regrouped, they changed, and then, we started to have some success against them."
On gaining confidence against future deficits…
"We've come from behind before, but this is a really, really good team that's ranked for a reason. I think to be able to come back like that—it wasn't like they were sabotaging. They're experienced, they're playing hard. They weren't self-inflicting their own wounds. They were really going, so we had to earn it. I think that was really, really important that we kept that pressure on them. They're good, they're really good. I know they're missing [Jeremiah] Tilmon, but they're even faster when he's not in there. Cuonzo's [Martin] a heck of a coach. I think the way we came back and got the momentum, the fact that we did it against such a good team, the fact that some guys were really on the attack, like Justin [Kier], K.D. [Johnson], Sahvir [Wheeler], Andrew [Garcia], those things can only hopefully help us because we're fully aware of how good Florida is as we go in there on Saturday."
On playing with desperation…
"I use the term desperate. The term I heard a long time ago from Doug Collins, which I've used for so long is that you have to play blue collar desperate. We just say that we have to be tough. We had to be extremely aggressive against them. We had to be tough because they are, and the team that was the most committed to the hustle game was going to win, and that's where the desperate comes in. It's not desperate that we need a win. It's desperate that we need to compete on a high level and a better level than what we have. If you do that, then you're putting yourself in a position to win. That's what was most important about that. I thought we had a lot of contributions, Jaxon [Etter] with nine. We had 16 deflections in the first half, which was not good. We had 46 for the game. K.D. [Johnson] gets 30 for the game. That's 30 deflections more. That says a lot about our defense. We had eight three-stops in a row, and we had six three-scores in a row, and when you hit over seven in both of those, it's tough to lose. We have, but it's tough to lose because the whole key is that consistency. Once you get momentum back, can you stay consistent with it? I thought our guys did a good job of that."
On the poise shown by his team tonight…
"Well, they were locked in. Again, the game Saturday, they just have to be reminded that we just won three in a row. We had just won 5-7. We came back against Tennessee. We didn't play very well at the beginning. It was a 14-point game, and I reminded them of this in a timeout when it was 13. We missed a three that we shouldn't have taken. We were in the bonus. We were in the bonus tonight at the 13:07 mark of the second half because we knew that was going to be a key part of the game, so let's make sure we stay with that. It wasn't about taking the jump shot. It wasn't about making a move. It was about getting to the rim. We had just been in this position the other day. We missed two shots and had a turnover. They scored three straight times. That's where the margin for error is not very high for us, so we needed to make sure that we were good and solid. If we were going to come back, we couldn't be beating ourselves while we were coming back. We had to trust what was happening and get ourselves into that bonus. I think we may have been at two or three team fouls at that point. That's the recipe for us because now we can set our defense, and it helps keep them out of transition."
On Justin Kier…
"Justin [Kier] was extremely locked in. I would say with P.J. [Horne] and Justin, we've put a little extra focus on them the last few days, at least I have. It's basically reminders, reminding them what they are capable of, making sure he's getting to the basket, playing assertively. P.J., trusting his shot, there's always a few little technical things you need to remind guys of when they're at their best, but sometimes it's just to feed them the spirit they got to have and they know they're capable and those guys. Justin and P.J., I have coached guys and I've coached teams that didn't have guys on the team that really tried hard, they didn't live and die with the losses. Those two kids overthink it, Andrew [Garcia] is the same way, they overwork, they really want to be good. Sometimes you've got to back that off too, and you've just got to get them back to square one on what's most important for them. It starts with their spirit, it starts with their confidence, building that confidence back up. Not because I say it, but because I continue to remind them what they've done and what they're capable of, and then we continue to help them work to get there."
On getting into the bonus and being able to come back…
"Obviously it does, because you're not only putting them in foul trouble, you're not only getting two points potentially right there, you're able to set your defense. They have to go against five guys and that's so important. Especially for a team that runs in transition like they do. Our guys did a better job, we made better adjustments, we guarded Kobe Brown better in the second half in the post. We got away from our game plan a little bit, but we got that back. I think the adjustments that the guys made getting back to getting back to what was most important on the defensive end with the pressure, with the fronting of the post, better job at challenging the shots and that created some runouts for us and attacking the rim got us to the foul line."
On game comeback by execution…
"I would say yeah, execution is always going to be a part of it no question about it—every game is different. We were giving them a lot of live ball turnovers which is huge. Execution is obviously a big part of it, putting multiple stops together is a big part of that, being active defensively. This past Saturday we were as active as we needed to be, we weren't as active in the first half against Tennessee but we picked it up. We don't have any choice but to be that way, because that is the way the game has got to be played, and that is when we are at our best."
On what being "blue collar desperate" means to him…
"It's getting on the floor, it's drawing charges, it's winning 50-50's, it's attacking the rim, it's not looking for a foul call, it's not worrying or whining when something doesn't go your way. You are locked in. I mean, blue collar people, if they are having a bad day, no one cares. That is what it is in basketball, they have to show up and go to work. They have got to show up and go to work to feed their families, they don't get to have bad days. Well, you know what, that is where we are at in college basketball right now too. None of this is promised to us. Let alone, being in a program like this, we can never take it for granted, but more than ever you can never take a day for granted in a COVID[-19] year like this, with as many games getting cancelled left and right. Tomorrow is not promised, so you have got to do the very best you can do inside of that day. If they are going to be successful in life, it is not because they were passive and laid back. It is going to be because they put their hard hat on, so to speak, and they played harder and were really committed to playing with one another. That is what—you can't have just a couple of guys, that are blue collar couple of guys, that are really locked in, you have to have a team full. I think our guys, especially in the second half, did a much better job at that."
On Jeremiah Tilmon's absence…
"I shouldn't have said quick, just faster getting up the floor. I shouldn't have said quick because he can really play. Maybe, yeah it is hypothetical. He wasn't here, so we will never know. We just had to be aggressive and that is the most important thing. They are a really good team and hopefully he comes back for them the way that he is capable of and has the senior year that he is fully capable of having. I am a big fan of what Missouri does, I love the way they play. That is why it is extra special to have a win like that because you know you have to earn it. They are not going to give you the game, you have to truly earn it. I am proud of how they did that, our guys."
#10 Toumani Camara | Sophomore
On what spurred the team on during their run tonight…
"It's something that Coach [Crean] said a lot, 'The more desperate team would probably win the game.' We're coming off of two losses and they're coming off of two losses, we just needed to stay true to ourselves. They played a great game, but I feel like we just really connected on the court and everybody was playing their part. The ball was moving like it needed to, and it was just a great game for us."
On how pivotal it was to get into the bonus early in the second half…
"It's really important, especially in the crunch time when the other team fouls and you are able to get to the free-throw line. It's something that coach said a lot, to attack the rim and get them in foul trouble and force that advantage for as soon as there is a foul, to be able to get to the free throw line. It's definitely one of the goals that we need to keep on doing, to keep attacking first once they're in foul trouble. That's how shots get open anyways, so we just need to stay aggressive and make sure we attack every time."
On Justin Kier and the rest of the team responding on the offensive end tonight...
"Justin [Kier] is a great player. Of course, he's probably not going to be able to play great every time, but we have a team where everybody can play well, so it's not something that's going to affect us because we're going to be able to pick him up in anything. He just found his rhythm today, and I think it's something that he can do every game, it's just sometimes the rhythm is harder to find depending on how the game is going. He had a great game today, and we really needed that, and his energy is really important to the team."
On his and-one during the team's run in the second half…
"We make sure we focus on every moment and every little detail to stay focused at any point in time. On the free throw line, it's something that I really try to focus on with those details, and it's just our desperation. We just lost two games and we're hungry, and I feel like that's something that we have to have even if we win games. We just have to be able to want this game more than the other team, and it's really important for us to keep that mentality."
On not letting "desperation" become negative and be stressful on the team…
"We just need to stay focused on what we do, stay true to ourselves, believe the game plan, and believe in our teammates. I think at this point when there's that stress between everybody, we can take on any team and pressure should not be a problem because the trust between each other is great. I think it's something that we've started doing better from game to game, but I feel like we are still learning about ourselves a bit, and every game is a new story so we just have to keep on rolling and learn every time."
On the small second half lineup that cut the lead to one…
"It's good to watch and good to see. It's a tough moment when you feel like they need to stay on the court and especially to keep that run going. I think it's a tough moment when everybody is connected on the court and the energy is very positive on the offensive end. That was a great moment at that point: the offense was great, the defense was great, and the connection between all of them was great."
On if the energy in the second half had a lot to do with the win tonight…
"Definitely. Like I said, it was about who was the most desperate and who wanted the game more. I feel like in the second half we were more focused on the little details, more focused on being passionate about being hungry for the win, and we just attacked them way harder than we did in the first half. That's how we should play every time and it should not be a question about that."
#5 Justin Kier | Graduate
On the second half comeback…
"We just miscommunicated on some crucial possessions in the beginning of the second half, so that kind of dug us deep. We knew we could fix those mistakes. We knew we were going to have great defensive stops if we could fix those mistakes, so that's what we really locked in on and tried not to settle offensively and get them to move and foul. We made some critical mistakes in the first of the second half, so we locked in on that and we continued to get stops."
On what it means to have Coach Crean's trust and playing out of a slump…
"It is the best feeling in the world when a coach believes in you and has the all-time high confidence in you. It's more mental than anything, that's how tough this league is. That's how great this league is. Every single night the different scouting and how they play is the difference. It's a slump I try not to get too down on and give into too much. I come out and do the same routines I do before games and practice and not try to change anything and be consistent in what I do. I know things are going to work out and when I play bad, other guys step up. I try not to play bad every single game, I try to stay defensively into it no matter how it is going offensively. Tonight, we really tried to go out there and attack. I'm proud of this team for sure."
On the turning point in the game…
"I just felt the spirit in the room. We met with a kid after the game today. I know you guys know his name is Taedan [Johnson]. I got to see him before the game, most of the guys didn't. I won't get into what is going on, but that is a great kid, and he definitely upped our spirit today even though we didn't know he was there—we just felt that energy in the room and on top of that, just locking in defensively. Being down 13, you can't give up easy buckets and you can't foul, so we continued to lock in on defense and convert on those different stops and turnovers, and it worked for ud—I think we can continue to do that going forward. If we played great defense, I think that helps our defense even more. And, the fans showed great love as well, they always do."
On the morale and confidence of the team getting their first win over a ranked opponent...
"It builds our confidence; we know we can't settle now. When we get to games like this—ranked team, great team, great SEC team and great coach too. You can celebrate this win, but you have to stay locked in. we have a couple of more games to end the season, we can't slip up we have to build of this win. We are happy about this win but not satisfied."
On the energy on the floor and the mindset of the team after Saturday's loss…
"We really wanted to attack practice and build off the little things that we didn't do well against the other teams. Defensively, just being more energized, showing hands, communicating better on defense. A lot of teams in the league can score, we need to score as well. Obviously, what stops scoring is communication on defense and keeping them from running what they want to run. Trying to mix up things and make them think a little bit. That was the key, locking in on defense, staying locked in and following through on the game plan the coaches have for us and they did a great job for us today."
On his 3-pointer to pull the team within two points…
"I knew it was good, Sahvir [Wheeler] found me in transition, he draws so much when he attacks the paint. That felt really, really good and I wanted to get us as energized and have the people in the room start getting energized. Once that happened, we went on a run as well. I just try to do what I can do and knock down the shots I can knock down and help this team get better every single day."
On his performance and confidence tonight…
"They gave me some stuff that I liked. I felt like I was being hesitant attacking the paint the last couple of games, so I just had to get my rhythm back, individually. Not forcing anything but giving what the game gives to me, and I think I had been settling a bit on the 3-point line and not making the team guard the line and guard the dribble as well. I have to be aggressive and that was the outcome in the first 10 minutes. They gave me some lanes that I liked, and I just went with it."
On the lineup of Sahvir Wheeler, K.D. Johnson, Andrew Garcia and himself on the court…
"It was pretty hard to match up with because we had some bigs. We are small, so we have to rebound and box out. That is a great defensive group, not saying anyone else on that bench isn't great defensively because we all are, but that is a great defensive group who were coming up with stops defensively, and offensively they had to deal with our quick guards. Coach is very smart so he knows what he's doing and what he can do to win, we trust him, us on the court have to be 'dawgs' and get this win."
Missouri head coach Cuonzo Martin
On whether or not he wants his team taking 26 3-pointer attempts…
"I thought as a staff, we felt we were shooting them early and quick. In the first half, we had a lot of 3-point attempts. They were wide open shots, you can't pass up open shots, but I did think some of them were quick. I told the guys to settle down a little bit and get to the rim, then we'll get that same shot. In the second half, maybe a couple were rushed here and there. We should have drove the ball. Again, we don't have a number that says, take this many threes. You have to know the shots. Feet down, shot ready. Stuff that we practice. You have to be ready to shoot the ball and you just can't settle if it is easy. You have to drive the ball, be a drive and make plays. I thought the first half we had some good looks but we just have to drive the ball a little more."
On whether he is confident the veteran leadership on this team will fight their way out of this streak…
"Without question. As long as you have the effort, and we understand how we need to score. When we get an opportunity to score the ball we do. Just having that grit in situations with teams, I think at Ole Miss we didn't have the grit. This game, a quick shot here, a couple of easy misses around the rim takes the momentum out of you, then you get the live ball turnovers. I thought we had what we needed to, to win the game."
On how hard is it to teach kids to close games out…
"I think one, you have to go through it, then, I don't care how old you are, you have people all over the country, but they haven't been in situations and not at that level of guy to say, 'Okay, this is what it takes, let me put you on my back.' Not necessarily put the team on your back, but say to go out and score the ball. Just understanding that this is what we have to do all the time. It's like, okay, you do your part and I'll do mine. They're good guys but somebody has to take the bull by the horns so to speak and say, 'Okay, we go, let's get a stop.' It's execution. It can't always come from the sideline. I think that's the biggest key. Going through those situations, understanding what it takes to win, having the grit to win, having the grit to get a stop. We have all of that. It can't be waiting on someone else to do it for you. Somebody has to take the torch."
On whether or not giving up leads has become a pattern…
"I guess it is if it's happened five times, but I think different things happen in different games. It's just a matter of executing down the stretch, doing what we're doing. Getting the ball inside, finishing at the rim, getting key stops. All of those things matter. It's just a matter of doing it. I think it takes one individual talking on defense to get stops and on offense, understanding what it takes to win and be successful. Executing and taking care of the ball. Then simply making those open shots when we have the opportunity to make them."
On whether there is anything he wants to see Xavier Pinson do more consistently…
"I think just having strong drives all the time. Strong defense. Execute what we're trying to do as a point guard and one of the experienced guys in our program. Just doing it at that level. It's nothing more than what I talk about all the time."
On whether he thinks the team is searching for an identity coming down the stretch…
"I don't think we're searching for identities. We have to dig down, defend, rebound, play our best. We have different guys who can score, not just one guy who can score. We have guys who can score the ball and make plays and our success as a whole, we're good together. Everybody understands their role, playing together. Searching for an identity? No, this is February. We're heading into March."
On second half turnovers…
"I thought we did a great job moving it. We were getting what we were looking for in the first half, even into the second half until the 15-minute mark. I thought we had a couple of key missed layups around the rim, and then those live ball turnovers led to four threes at one point. That is a 12-point turnaround. If you put yourself in a position to win on the road, you have to find a way to win it."
On lost momentum in recent games…
"Outside of finishing the game and staying strong, I thought we had some stuff around the rim, we just did not capitalize. A couple of key live ball turnovers led to 3-point shots. They got their heads up and made some threes. I think there was a sequence where they made four threes. It felt like we could get what we wanted offensively. They made some plays and got their heads up. I do not think there is one game, whether it is mid-week or weekend, I just thought we had great energy, a great game plan, everything we were trying to do we just could not maintain for whatever reason and really execute what we try to do offensively."
On Kobe Brown's game…
"I thought he was aggressive. I thought he was in attack-mode. He started cramping up a little bit, but it was not bad. I thought he was a threat in and around the rim. He was facing up and making plays, but we feel like we had an advantage with him. I think that the key with him is being aggressive mentally, the mindset to look to score. Maybe, because of [Jeremiah] Tilmon out, he felt like he needed to do that, but it was not as if we put more pressure and said 'we need you to score,' I just felt like there was an opportunity for him, and he got off to a great start early."
On using different ball handlers throughout the game…
"If [Drew] Buggs and X [Xavier Pinson] are in there, and they get a rebound, then either one of them brings it up, and if Buggs and X are in the game together. Unless we run a specific play to get somebody the ball, then Buggs is probably the point guard, so you want X off the ball, so he can score, unless we run a play specifically for him."
On how the team played offensively…
"We certainly do not want the turnovers, that is first and foremost. I thought a couple of guys took some quick [shots]. That is one of those things that we talk about. You have to understand how you got the lead and maintain that. Just because there is a lead and this shot seems to be easy or looks good, it is not the best shot, if that is not who you are all the time. I think that is the biggest key, just finish doing what we do to get us to that point and let us finish the game that way. Of course, you do not want the turnovers."
On Jeremiah Tilmon's absence…
"I have talked to him. I guess he is doing as well as he can do right now when you lose a loved one. We expect him back soon."
On the second half effort…
"I did not think the effort fell off. I thought it did at Ole Miss, but I did not think the effort fell off. I just thought a quick shot here, a live ball turnover, a missed layup for us around the rim, a couple of those and the momentum shifts. They make a play here, and all of a sudden, they hit two or three threes in a row. That changed the game, but I did not think the intensity fell off, not at all. I thought that the game plan, and we felt like the way they defend ball screens, we would have a lot of action around the rim. We just have to capitalize, because they were up on X and Drew, and that is fine. I thought we did a great job in the first half of taking advantage of that. The second half, we just did not get them around the rim like we needed to put them in."
#24 Kobe Brown | Sophomore | Forward
On what needs to change within the team so they can handle momentum flips better…
"I would just say taking every possession seriously, go hard every possession, taking care of the ball and just being who we are. That's all we have to do."
On what he saw offensively that allowed him to score 21 points…
"My teammates kept talking to me. They saw I had mismatches all over the floor and wanted to take advantage of those, so they kept staying in my ear and just saying do this or that. Coaches were also on me about it. So, I was just trying to do the best I could."
On whether he feels the intensity changed from an offensive perspective…
"I would say it was just a matter of execution. It's tough. The mental lapses, we have to limit those and take care of the ball the best we can. Make sure everyone is making the right plays and what counts the most."
#42 Parker Braun | R-Sophomore | Forward
On where he felt the shift in momentum and how the game got away from them…
"I think we stopped being aggressive. We had a lot of mismatches, and we took our time in the first half and we took advantage of them. In the second half, we got sloppy and had a lot more turnovers, and we had bad transition defense and let it get away from us."
On what they can do to help take pressure off Dru Smith getting double teamed…
"A lot of the time, we have Jeremiah [Tilmon] rolling to the rim, that draws a lot of attention so that takes a lot of pressure off of Dru and X [Xavier Pinson] but with his absence, other teams are scouting that, and we have to take the ball out of their hands and make other people make plays. So, us other guys have to be ready to get out there and make plays."
On what he believes is the cause to the double digit lead losses…
"I don't know if it's—it's certainly an issue, but I don't think there's anything going on. We just have to stay locked in for a full 40-minutes and be ready to play down the stretch. We have a lot of experienced guys, a lot of winners and a lot of guys that are really passionate about this game. We all have to lock in and play as one."
Graduate Justin Kier led Georgia (13-8, 6-8 SEC) with 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting, one of five Bulldogs in double-figures. Sophomore Toumani Camara tallied 15 points and a team-high eight rebounds, with graduate Andrew Garcia pitching in with 13 points. Sophomore Sahvir Wheeler posted 12 points and six assists, while freshman K.D. Johnson scored 10 points and notched four steals. Overall, the Bulldogs shot 49.1 percent from the field, including a 54.2 clip in the second half.
"I think the way we came back and got the momentum, the fact that we did it against such a good team, the fact that some guys were really on the attack, like Justin, K.D., Sahvir, Andrew, those things can only hopefully help us," said head coach Tom Crean following the game.
Both teams opened the game strong offensively, with Wheeler and Kier powering the Georgia attack in the early going. Kier continued to pick up buckets for the Bulldogs, quickly reaching double-figures in scoring and helping them take a five-point lead by the second media break. Using a 11-0 run, Missouri (13-6, 6-6 SEC) gradually worked its way back into the lead with seven minutes remaining in the half.
The Tigers continued to extend their advantage as the Bulldogs went over five minutes without a field goal, with Horne finally breaking the streak. Each team struggled to score in the closing moments of the first, with the exception of Garcia, who scored six unanswered to put Georgia back in front. The lead was short-lived, however, as a late 3-pointer gave Missouri a 37-33 lead at intermission.
POSTGAME VIDEOS
Coach Crean
Missouri continued to stretch its lead in the second half, building a 13-point margin in the process by the first media timeout. Georgia attempted to get back into the contest at the foul line, quickly moving into the bonus and narrowing the gap to two on a 3-pointer from sophomore Jaxon Etter. The Bulldogs went on to knot the game at 53 as Johnson picked up a steal and drove for a fast break lay-in.
Georgia eventually regained the lead with consecutive triples from Horne and Kier, capping off a 21-5 comeback sequence. While Missouri was able to again tie the game, Camara helped keep the Bulldogs ahead with a dunk and a crucial three-point play following up on a missed free throw. Holding a narrow lead in the final minutes, Georgia stayed in front for good with timely steals and solid shooting from the charity stripe, sealing a season-defining win in the process.
"We needed to change momentum," said Crean about the small lineup used during the comeback. "It wasn't about positions as much then as it was about energy and toughness and movement. Anytime we have Jaxon and K.D. in there, they bring an energy level and a competitiveness level that I think helps the guys. It was a makeshift lineup, not based on who's guarding who, but who's going to fight, compete, get on that glass, and in Jaxon's case, the way he steps up and draws charges. Those are really, really important things."
Georgia returns to the road this weekend for a matchup against rival Florida (10-6, 6-5) on Saturday, Feb. 20 at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida. The meeting with the Gators is set for a 3:30 tip time and will be broadcast on SEC Network.
Georgia head coach Tom Crean
On the lineup used during the second half run…
"We needed to change momentum. It wasn't about positions as much then as it was about energy and toughness and movement. Anytime we have Jaxon [Etter] and K.D. [Johnson] in there, they bring an energy level and a competitiveness level that I think helps the guys. It was a makeshift lineup, not based on who's guarding who, but who's going to fight, compete, get on that glass, and in Jaxon's case, the way he steps up and draws charges. Those are really, really important things. And so, we played basically played about eight guys in that span and were able to figure it out. After the timeout we took, I thought they regrouped, they changed, and then, we started to have some success against them."
On gaining confidence against future deficits…
"We've come from behind before, but this is a really, really good team that's ranked for a reason. I think to be able to come back like that—it wasn't like they were sabotaging. They're experienced, they're playing hard. They weren't self-inflicting their own wounds. They were really going, so we had to earn it. I think that was really, really important that we kept that pressure on them. They're good, they're really good. I know they're missing [Jeremiah] Tilmon, but they're even faster when he's not in there. Cuonzo's [Martin] a heck of a coach. I think the way we came back and got the momentum, the fact that we did it against such a good team, the fact that some guys were really on the attack, like Justin [Kier], K.D. [Johnson], Sahvir [Wheeler], Andrew [Garcia], those things can only hopefully help us because we're fully aware of how good Florida is as we go in there on Saturday."
On playing with desperation…
"I use the term desperate. The term I heard a long time ago from Doug Collins, which I've used for so long is that you have to play blue collar desperate. We just say that we have to be tough. We had to be extremely aggressive against them. We had to be tough because they are, and the team that was the most committed to the hustle game was going to win, and that's where the desperate comes in. It's not desperate that we need a win. It's desperate that we need to compete on a high level and a better level than what we have. If you do that, then you're putting yourself in a position to win. That's what was most important about that. I thought we had a lot of contributions, Jaxon [Etter] with nine. We had 16 deflections in the first half, which was not good. We had 46 for the game. K.D. [Johnson] gets 30 for the game. That's 30 deflections more. That says a lot about our defense. We had eight three-stops in a row, and we had six three-scores in a row, and when you hit over seven in both of those, it's tough to lose. We have, but it's tough to lose because the whole key is that consistency. Once you get momentum back, can you stay consistent with it? I thought our guys did a good job of that."
On the poise shown by his team tonight…
"Well, they were locked in. Again, the game Saturday, they just have to be reminded that we just won three in a row. We had just won 5-7. We came back against Tennessee. We didn't play very well at the beginning. It was a 14-point game, and I reminded them of this in a timeout when it was 13. We missed a three that we shouldn't have taken. We were in the bonus. We were in the bonus tonight at the 13:07 mark of the second half because we knew that was going to be a key part of the game, so let's make sure we stay with that. It wasn't about taking the jump shot. It wasn't about making a move. It was about getting to the rim. We had just been in this position the other day. We missed two shots and had a turnover. They scored three straight times. That's where the margin for error is not very high for us, so we needed to make sure that we were good and solid. If we were going to come back, we couldn't be beating ourselves while we were coming back. We had to trust what was happening and get ourselves into that bonus. I think we may have been at two or three team fouls at that point. That's the recipe for us because now we can set our defense, and it helps keep them out of transition."
On Justin Kier…
"Justin [Kier] was extremely locked in. I would say with P.J. [Horne] and Justin, we've put a little extra focus on them the last few days, at least I have. It's basically reminders, reminding them what they are capable of, making sure he's getting to the basket, playing assertively. P.J., trusting his shot, there's always a few little technical things you need to remind guys of when they're at their best, but sometimes it's just to feed them the spirit they got to have and they know they're capable and those guys. Justin and P.J., I have coached guys and I've coached teams that didn't have guys on the team that really tried hard, they didn't live and die with the losses. Those two kids overthink it, Andrew [Garcia] is the same way, they overwork, they really want to be good. Sometimes you've got to back that off too, and you've just got to get them back to square one on what's most important for them. It starts with their spirit, it starts with their confidence, building that confidence back up. Not because I say it, but because I continue to remind them what they've done and what they're capable of, and then we continue to help them work to get there."
On getting into the bonus and being able to come back…
"Obviously it does, because you're not only putting them in foul trouble, you're not only getting two points potentially right there, you're able to set your defense. They have to go against five guys and that's so important. Especially for a team that runs in transition like they do. Our guys did a better job, we made better adjustments, we guarded Kobe Brown better in the second half in the post. We got away from our game plan a little bit, but we got that back. I think the adjustments that the guys made getting back to getting back to what was most important on the defensive end with the pressure, with the fronting of the post, better job at challenging the shots and that created some runouts for us and attacking the rim got us to the foul line."
On game comeback by execution…
"I would say yeah, execution is always going to be a part of it no question about it—every game is different. We were giving them a lot of live ball turnovers which is huge. Execution is obviously a big part of it, putting multiple stops together is a big part of that, being active defensively. This past Saturday we were as active as we needed to be, we weren't as active in the first half against Tennessee but we picked it up. We don't have any choice but to be that way, because that is the way the game has got to be played, and that is when we are at our best."
On what being "blue collar desperate" means to him…
"It's getting on the floor, it's drawing charges, it's winning 50-50's, it's attacking the rim, it's not looking for a foul call, it's not worrying or whining when something doesn't go your way. You are locked in. I mean, blue collar people, if they are having a bad day, no one cares. That is what it is in basketball, they have to show up and go to work. They have got to show up and go to work to feed their families, they don't get to have bad days. Well, you know what, that is where we are at in college basketball right now too. None of this is promised to us. Let alone, being in a program like this, we can never take it for granted, but more than ever you can never take a day for granted in a COVID[-19] year like this, with as many games getting cancelled left and right. Tomorrow is not promised, so you have got to do the very best you can do inside of that day. If they are going to be successful in life, it is not because they were passive and laid back. It is going to be because they put their hard hat on, so to speak, and they played harder and were really committed to playing with one another. That is what—you can't have just a couple of guys, that are blue collar couple of guys, that are really locked in, you have to have a team full. I think our guys, especially in the second half, did a much better job at that."
On Jeremiah Tilmon's absence…
"I shouldn't have said quick, just faster getting up the floor. I shouldn't have said quick because he can really play. Maybe, yeah it is hypothetical. He wasn't here, so we will never know. We just had to be aggressive and that is the most important thing. They are a really good team and hopefully he comes back for them the way that he is capable of and has the senior year that he is fully capable of having. I am a big fan of what Missouri does, I love the way they play. That is why it is extra special to have a win like that because you know you have to earn it. They are not going to give you the game, you have to truly earn it. I am proud of how they did that, our guys."
#10 Toumani Camara | Sophomore
On what spurred the team on during their run tonight…
"It's something that Coach [Crean] said a lot, 'The more desperate team would probably win the game.' We're coming off of two losses and they're coming off of two losses, we just needed to stay true to ourselves. They played a great game, but I feel like we just really connected on the court and everybody was playing their part. The ball was moving like it needed to, and it was just a great game for us."
On how pivotal it was to get into the bonus early in the second half…
"It's really important, especially in the crunch time when the other team fouls and you are able to get to the free-throw line. It's something that coach said a lot, to attack the rim and get them in foul trouble and force that advantage for as soon as there is a foul, to be able to get to the free throw line. It's definitely one of the goals that we need to keep on doing, to keep attacking first once they're in foul trouble. That's how shots get open anyways, so we just need to stay aggressive and make sure we attack every time."
On Justin Kier and the rest of the team responding on the offensive end tonight...
"Justin [Kier] is a great player. Of course, he's probably not going to be able to play great every time, but we have a team where everybody can play well, so it's not something that's going to affect us because we're going to be able to pick him up in anything. He just found his rhythm today, and I think it's something that he can do every game, it's just sometimes the rhythm is harder to find depending on how the game is going. He had a great game today, and we really needed that, and his energy is really important to the team."
On his and-one during the team's run in the second half…
"We make sure we focus on every moment and every little detail to stay focused at any point in time. On the free throw line, it's something that I really try to focus on with those details, and it's just our desperation. We just lost two games and we're hungry, and I feel like that's something that we have to have even if we win games. We just have to be able to want this game more than the other team, and it's really important for us to keep that mentality."
On not letting "desperation" become negative and be stressful on the team…
"We just need to stay focused on what we do, stay true to ourselves, believe the game plan, and believe in our teammates. I think at this point when there's that stress between everybody, we can take on any team and pressure should not be a problem because the trust between each other is great. I think it's something that we've started doing better from game to game, but I feel like we are still learning about ourselves a bit, and every game is a new story so we just have to keep on rolling and learn every time."
On the small second half lineup that cut the lead to one…
"It's good to watch and good to see. It's a tough moment when you feel like they need to stay on the court and especially to keep that run going. I think it's a tough moment when everybody is connected on the court and the energy is very positive on the offensive end. That was a great moment at that point: the offense was great, the defense was great, and the connection between all of them was great."
On if the energy in the second half had a lot to do with the win tonight…
"Definitely. Like I said, it was about who was the most desperate and who wanted the game more. I feel like in the second half we were more focused on the little details, more focused on being passionate about being hungry for the win, and we just attacked them way harder than we did in the first half. That's how we should play every time and it should not be a question about that."
#5 Justin Kier | Graduate
On the second half comeback…
"We just miscommunicated on some crucial possessions in the beginning of the second half, so that kind of dug us deep. We knew we could fix those mistakes. We knew we were going to have great defensive stops if we could fix those mistakes, so that's what we really locked in on and tried not to settle offensively and get them to move and foul. We made some critical mistakes in the first of the second half, so we locked in on that and we continued to get stops."
On what it means to have Coach Crean's trust and playing out of a slump…
"It is the best feeling in the world when a coach believes in you and has the all-time high confidence in you. It's more mental than anything, that's how tough this league is. That's how great this league is. Every single night the different scouting and how they play is the difference. It's a slump I try not to get too down on and give into too much. I come out and do the same routines I do before games and practice and not try to change anything and be consistent in what I do. I know things are going to work out and when I play bad, other guys step up. I try not to play bad every single game, I try to stay defensively into it no matter how it is going offensively. Tonight, we really tried to go out there and attack. I'm proud of this team for sure."
On the turning point in the game…
"I just felt the spirit in the room. We met with a kid after the game today. I know you guys know his name is Taedan [Johnson]. I got to see him before the game, most of the guys didn't. I won't get into what is going on, but that is a great kid, and he definitely upped our spirit today even though we didn't know he was there—we just felt that energy in the room and on top of that, just locking in defensively. Being down 13, you can't give up easy buckets and you can't foul, so we continued to lock in on defense and convert on those different stops and turnovers, and it worked for ud—I think we can continue to do that going forward. If we played great defense, I think that helps our defense even more. And, the fans showed great love as well, they always do."
On the morale and confidence of the team getting their first win over a ranked opponent...
"It builds our confidence; we know we can't settle now. When we get to games like this—ranked team, great team, great SEC team and great coach too. You can celebrate this win, but you have to stay locked in. we have a couple of more games to end the season, we can't slip up we have to build of this win. We are happy about this win but not satisfied."
On the energy on the floor and the mindset of the team after Saturday's loss…
"We really wanted to attack practice and build off the little things that we didn't do well against the other teams. Defensively, just being more energized, showing hands, communicating better on defense. A lot of teams in the league can score, we need to score as well. Obviously, what stops scoring is communication on defense and keeping them from running what they want to run. Trying to mix up things and make them think a little bit. That was the key, locking in on defense, staying locked in and following through on the game plan the coaches have for us and they did a great job for us today."
On his 3-pointer to pull the team within two points…
"I knew it was good, Sahvir [Wheeler] found me in transition, he draws so much when he attacks the paint. That felt really, really good and I wanted to get us as energized and have the people in the room start getting energized. Once that happened, we went on a run as well. I just try to do what I can do and knock down the shots I can knock down and help this team get better every single day."
On his performance and confidence tonight…
"They gave me some stuff that I liked. I felt like I was being hesitant attacking the paint the last couple of games, so I just had to get my rhythm back, individually. Not forcing anything but giving what the game gives to me, and I think I had been settling a bit on the 3-point line and not making the team guard the line and guard the dribble as well. I have to be aggressive and that was the outcome in the first 10 minutes. They gave me some lanes that I liked, and I just went with it."
On the lineup of Sahvir Wheeler, K.D. Johnson, Andrew Garcia and himself on the court…
"It was pretty hard to match up with because we had some bigs. We are small, so we have to rebound and box out. That is a great defensive group, not saying anyone else on that bench isn't great defensively because we all are, but that is a great defensive group who were coming up with stops defensively, and offensively they had to deal with our quick guards. Coach is very smart so he knows what he's doing and what he can do to win, we trust him, us on the court have to be 'dawgs' and get this win."
Missouri head coach Cuonzo Martin
On whether or not he wants his team taking 26 3-pointer attempts…
"I thought as a staff, we felt we were shooting them early and quick. In the first half, we had a lot of 3-point attempts. They were wide open shots, you can't pass up open shots, but I did think some of them were quick. I told the guys to settle down a little bit and get to the rim, then we'll get that same shot. In the second half, maybe a couple were rushed here and there. We should have drove the ball. Again, we don't have a number that says, take this many threes. You have to know the shots. Feet down, shot ready. Stuff that we practice. You have to be ready to shoot the ball and you just can't settle if it is easy. You have to drive the ball, be a drive and make plays. I thought the first half we had some good looks but we just have to drive the ball a little more."
On whether he is confident the veteran leadership on this team will fight their way out of this streak…
"Without question. As long as you have the effort, and we understand how we need to score. When we get an opportunity to score the ball we do. Just having that grit in situations with teams, I think at Ole Miss we didn't have the grit. This game, a quick shot here, a couple of easy misses around the rim takes the momentum out of you, then you get the live ball turnovers. I thought we had what we needed to, to win the game."
On how hard is it to teach kids to close games out…
"I think one, you have to go through it, then, I don't care how old you are, you have people all over the country, but they haven't been in situations and not at that level of guy to say, 'Okay, this is what it takes, let me put you on my back.' Not necessarily put the team on your back, but say to go out and score the ball. Just understanding that this is what we have to do all the time. It's like, okay, you do your part and I'll do mine. They're good guys but somebody has to take the bull by the horns so to speak and say, 'Okay, we go, let's get a stop.' It's execution. It can't always come from the sideline. I think that's the biggest key. Going through those situations, understanding what it takes to win, having the grit to win, having the grit to get a stop. We have all of that. It can't be waiting on someone else to do it for you. Somebody has to take the torch."
On whether or not giving up leads has become a pattern…
"I guess it is if it's happened five times, but I think different things happen in different games. It's just a matter of executing down the stretch, doing what we're doing. Getting the ball inside, finishing at the rim, getting key stops. All of those things matter. It's just a matter of doing it. I think it takes one individual talking on defense to get stops and on offense, understanding what it takes to win and be successful. Executing and taking care of the ball. Then simply making those open shots when we have the opportunity to make them."
On whether there is anything he wants to see Xavier Pinson do more consistently…
"I think just having strong drives all the time. Strong defense. Execute what we're trying to do as a point guard and one of the experienced guys in our program. Just doing it at that level. It's nothing more than what I talk about all the time."
On whether he thinks the team is searching for an identity coming down the stretch…
"I don't think we're searching for identities. We have to dig down, defend, rebound, play our best. We have different guys who can score, not just one guy who can score. We have guys who can score the ball and make plays and our success as a whole, we're good together. Everybody understands their role, playing together. Searching for an identity? No, this is February. We're heading into March."
On second half turnovers…
"I thought we did a great job moving it. We were getting what we were looking for in the first half, even into the second half until the 15-minute mark. I thought we had a couple of key missed layups around the rim, and then those live ball turnovers led to four threes at one point. That is a 12-point turnaround. If you put yourself in a position to win on the road, you have to find a way to win it."
On lost momentum in recent games…
"Outside of finishing the game and staying strong, I thought we had some stuff around the rim, we just did not capitalize. A couple of key live ball turnovers led to 3-point shots. They got their heads up and made some threes. I think there was a sequence where they made four threes. It felt like we could get what we wanted offensively. They made some plays and got their heads up. I do not think there is one game, whether it is mid-week or weekend, I just thought we had great energy, a great game plan, everything we were trying to do we just could not maintain for whatever reason and really execute what we try to do offensively."
On Kobe Brown's game…
"I thought he was aggressive. I thought he was in attack-mode. He started cramping up a little bit, but it was not bad. I thought he was a threat in and around the rim. He was facing up and making plays, but we feel like we had an advantage with him. I think that the key with him is being aggressive mentally, the mindset to look to score. Maybe, because of [Jeremiah] Tilmon out, he felt like he needed to do that, but it was not as if we put more pressure and said 'we need you to score,' I just felt like there was an opportunity for him, and he got off to a great start early."
On using different ball handlers throughout the game…
"If [Drew] Buggs and X [Xavier Pinson] are in there, and they get a rebound, then either one of them brings it up, and if Buggs and X are in the game together. Unless we run a specific play to get somebody the ball, then Buggs is probably the point guard, so you want X off the ball, so he can score, unless we run a play specifically for him."
On how the team played offensively…
"We certainly do not want the turnovers, that is first and foremost. I thought a couple of guys took some quick [shots]. That is one of those things that we talk about. You have to understand how you got the lead and maintain that. Just because there is a lead and this shot seems to be easy or looks good, it is not the best shot, if that is not who you are all the time. I think that is the biggest key, just finish doing what we do to get us to that point and let us finish the game that way. Of course, you do not want the turnovers."
On Jeremiah Tilmon's absence…
"I have talked to him. I guess he is doing as well as he can do right now when you lose a loved one. We expect him back soon."
On the second half effort…
"I did not think the effort fell off. I thought it did at Ole Miss, but I did not think the effort fell off. I just thought a quick shot here, a live ball turnover, a missed layup for us around the rim, a couple of those and the momentum shifts. They make a play here, and all of a sudden, they hit two or three threes in a row. That changed the game, but I did not think the intensity fell off, not at all. I thought that the game plan, and we felt like the way they defend ball screens, we would have a lot of action around the rim. We just have to capitalize, because they were up on X and Drew, and that is fine. I thought we did a great job in the first half of taking advantage of that. The second half, we just did not get them around the rim like we needed to put them in."
#24 Kobe Brown | Sophomore | Forward
On what needs to change within the team so they can handle momentum flips better…
"I would just say taking every possession seriously, go hard every possession, taking care of the ball and just being who we are. That's all we have to do."
On what he saw offensively that allowed him to score 21 points…
"My teammates kept talking to me. They saw I had mismatches all over the floor and wanted to take advantage of those, so they kept staying in my ear and just saying do this or that. Coaches were also on me about it. So, I was just trying to do the best I could."
On whether he feels the intensity changed from an offensive perspective…
"I would say it was just a matter of execution. It's tough. The mental lapses, we have to limit those and take care of the ball the best we can. Make sure everyone is making the right plays and what counts the most."
#42 Parker Braun | R-Sophomore | Forward
On where he felt the shift in momentum and how the game got away from them…
"I think we stopped being aggressive. We had a lot of mismatches, and we took our time in the first half and we took advantage of them. In the second half, we got sloppy and had a lot more turnovers, and we had bad transition defense and let it get away from us."
On what they can do to help take pressure off Dru Smith getting double teamed…
"A lot of the time, we have Jeremiah [Tilmon] rolling to the rim, that draws a lot of attention so that takes a lot of pressure off of Dru and X [Xavier Pinson] but with his absence, other teams are scouting that, and we have to take the ball out of their hands and make other people make plays. So, us other guys have to be ready to get out there and make plays."
On what he believes is the cause to the double digit lead losses…
"I don't know if it's—it's certainly an issue, but I don't think there's anything going on. We just have to stay locked in for a full 40-minutes and be ready to play down the stretch. We have a lot of experienced guys, a lot of winners and a lot of guys that are really passionate about this game. We all have to lock in and play as one."
Team Stats
Mizzou
UGa
FG%
.426
.491
3FG%
.231
.467
FT%
.800
.808
RB
31
34
TO
13
15
STL
7
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Basketball
/ Men's Basketball
/ Men's Basketball
/ Men's Basketball
/ Men's Basketball
/ Men's Basketball
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Monday, September 22
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Monday, September 22
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Georgia Basketball - Dylan James - Media Availability
Monday, September 15
