ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia came up just shy of a win during its comeback attempt against Vanderbilt, losing 85-82 before a sellout crowd of 10,523 inside Stegeman Coliseum Saturday afternoon.
Jabri Abdur-Rahim led all scorers, contributing a career-best 21 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the 3-point line, also tying his previous career high for threes. Senior Terry Roberts added 15 points, 6 rebounds and six assists, while center Braelen Bridges had 10 points and eight rebounds.
"A tough one, a tough one, but credit to Vanderbilt, Coach (Jerry) Stackhouse and staff, I thought they were terrific,” said Georgia head coach Mike White following the game. “10-of-21 from the 3-point line gives you a chance on the road. … I thought our press and our pressure late were a factor giving us a chance to play down and transition, but the way they shot it from three, the way they executed, especially with a lead. And they have got some adversity they are dealing with, so it was a great performance by those guys. I am not going to sit here and tell you everything we did wrong. We played an SEC game against a good team; we didn't play well enough.”
After jumping out to an early 8-5 lead thanks to a dunk from Frank Anslem, the Bulldogs fell behind and allowed Vanderbilt to take the lead. The Commodores would go on a 10-point run, which included two of their eight first-half 3-pointers, leading 15-8 with just under 14 minutes to play in the half.
Georgia would trail for most of the opening frame before a five-point swing put the Bulldogs down just two, 30-28. A dunk from Anslem and a trey from Abdur-Rahim put the Bulldogs within striking distance and it would take advantage. Abdur-Rahim and Mardrez McBride each cashed in a 3-pointer and tied the game at 36 with just over two minutes remaining. However, Vanderbilt would end the half on an 8-0 run, claiming a 44-36 lead heading into the halftime break.
The teams would open the second half trading baskets, with Georgia getting the lead down to three following a 4-point play from Abdur-Rahim. Yet once again, Vanderbilt ballooned its lead back to nine by the next media timeout. After again shrinking the deficit to three, a technical foul called on White sparked an 8-0 Commodore run and a game-high 12-point lead.
Georgia again went on a run, rattling off 11 unanswered over the next four minutes. Roberts made it a one-point game with 2:13 remaining, but Vanderbilt kept Georgia at bay with consistent free throw makes. With four seconds to go and down three, Abdur-Rahim was able to get off a shot, but it hit off the rim and sealed the Bulldogs’ first home loss of the season.
Georgia will play its next game on the road, visiting No. 9 Tennessee this Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET inside Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville. The contest will be the second time the Bulldogs have faced a ranked opponent this season and the first time playing one away from its home court.
