OXFORD, Miss. — Tye Fagan scored 19 points, Shavir Wheeler added 18 points and nine assists and Georgia held off Mississippi 78-74 on Saturday to win its first conference game of the season and snap a four-game losing streak.
Ole Miss (6-6, 1-4 Southeastern Conference) led almost the entire first half despite going 1 of 13 from the arc and had a one-point lead after Romello White's basket in the opening seconds of the second half. But Fagan scored 13 points in a 24-8 run that left the Bulldogs (8-4, 1-4) ahead 53-38 with 12 minutes remaining.
Devonte Shuler led a 9-0 run with seven points that got the Rebels within a one with 1:27 to go but Wheeler made four free throws over the next minute and another by Justin Kier provided the final margin with five seconds left.
"These guys were ready to go, they were locked in, they warmed up well and they stuck together even when they made the runs," Georgia coach Tom Crean said. "They were really able to adjust, we did a lot of adjusting today. We did a lot of new things out of time outs based on how we were being defended. They responded to that, they were completely locked into the game plan and to winning the game and I'm proud of them."
K.D. Johnson, playing in only his second game after given NCAA clearance, followed his 21-point debut against Auburn with 14 points against the Rebels, including four 3-pointers on five attempts. Toumani Camara added 13 points. The Bulldogs shot 75% in the second half and 59% for the game.
Shuler had four 3-pointers and scored 24 points with eight assists and Jarkel Joiner added a career-high 22 points.
Ole Miss has lost three straight.
Georgia will return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 20 as Kentucky (4-7, 3-1 SEC) will visit Athens for a 7 p.m. tip off at Stegeman Coliseum.
(Georgia Sports Communications contributed to this story.)
