JACKSON

Bulldogs win SEC contest

Men's basketball breaks losing streak

By: LAWRENCE CONNEFF

Posted: 3/6/08

For the first time all season, the Georgia men's basketball team was the one making the big plays at the end to win a close SEC contest.

The Bulldogs (13-15, 4-11 SEC) pulled out a 59-54 victory at Auburn (14-14, 4-11) Wednesday night, snapping a seven-game conference road losing streak as well as a five-game skid overall.

"We've come so, so close on so many occasions in the SEC this year, so I'm really happy for our guys. They're thrilled," head coach Dennis Felton said in a post-game radio interview.

In the final minute alone, Georgia suffered through missed free throws, desperation Auburn 3-point attempts and an almost-devastating call by the officials, but was able to pick up a rare win away from home.

With the Bulldogs ahead 57-54 with seven seconds left, Sundiata Gaines missed a pair of free throws that would have all but ended the Tigers' hopes.

He grabbed his own rebound off the second miss, but the officials quickly awarded Auburn a timeout. After some discussion, the call was reversed. Georgia then inbounded the ball and Billy Humphrey iced the victory with two free throws with one-tenth of a second left.

Auburn had several chances to tie or go ahead in the closing minutes, but missed its final six field-goal attempts.

Georgia came in with a big size advantage in the post, and Albert Jackson was more than willing to take advantage of it. The Auburn roster features just two players six-feet-eight-inches or taller.

Jackson, who has been on the most productive run of his career of late, posted a career-high 16 points and eight rebounds.

He gave the Bulldogs the lead for good at 53-52 on a lay in with 2:53 left to notch an 80 percent shooting night from the field.