ATHENS — Kirby Smart was a little more relaxed Wednesday night.
Just two nights after Georgia’s football coach led the Bulldogs to their second straight national championship, Smart and his family were in the front row at Stegeman Coliseum supporting the basketball team as Georgia beat Mississippi State 58-50.
Terry Roberts scored 16 points, Braelen Bridges had 11 points and 10 rebounds and coach Mike White’s Bulldogs extended their home winning streak to 10 games. Georgia (12-4, 2-1 SEC) has doubled its SEC win total from last season when the Bulldogs lost 17 games in the conference.
Credit: Tony Walsh/UGAAA
Credit: Tony Walsh/UGAAA
Georgia guard Jabri Abdur-Rahim secured a key rebound after Mississippi State nearly tied it at 48-all on a 3-pointer with 1:30 to play. Abdur-Rahim was fouled on the rebound and made two free throws to extend UGA’s lead to 50-45.
Mississippi State’s Dashawn Davis sank a wide-open 3-pointer, following an offensive rebound, to get within 50-48 but Roberts was fouled at the other end and made two free throws for a four-point lead. Mississippi State missed a 3-pointer and Bridges sealed it with two free throws at 25.7.
Both teams shot 30% from the field and Georgia had 18 turnovers. Mississippi State was undone by going 7 of 22 from the free-throw line while UGA made 25 of 31.
Justin Hill added 12 points and Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe had 10 points and seven rebounds for Georgia. Kario Oquendo, averaging 14.1 points per game, was scoreless in 17 minutes. Bridges reached 1,000 career points and 500 rebounds in his 100th game.
Shakeel Moore scored 15 points and D.J. Jeffries had 10 points and seven boards for Mississippi State (12-4, 1-3). Tolu Smith, averaging 14.4 points per game, was scoreless in the first half before finishing with five points. Mississippi State had just 11 points through the opening 16 minutes of the game after going nearly eight minutes without scoring.
Credit: Tony Walsh/UGAAA
Credit: Tony Walsh/UGAAA
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