The Red and Black

Issue date: 3/21/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: RICHARD HAMM Senior Dave Bliss scrambles with the ball as Xavier's Josh Duncan guards him closely in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Washington, D.C. Thursday. Bliss was cited with five fouls in the game. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: RICHARD HAMM Georgia's Terrance Woodbury goes up for a layup as Xavier's Josh Duncan reacts during the first round of the NCAA tournament. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: RICHARD HAMM Georgia guard Billy Humphrey protects the ball from Xavier's Drew Lavender as he drives the ball down the court. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: RICHARD HAMM (left to right) Corey Butler, Dave Bliss and Billy Humphrey walk off the court of the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. after losing to Xavier. [Click to enlarge]

[Click to enlarge]

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Georgia men's basketball team's NCAA first round matchup with Xavier followed a familiar script.

Like each of the four games the team won in the SEC Tournament to get to this point, the Bulldogs jumped ahead early and sustained a big run by their opponent.

But this time, there wasn't any late-game magic, as No. 14 Georgia fell to No. 3 seed Xavier 73-61 in West Regional action at the Verizon Center.

The Musketeers (28-6) overcame a nine-point halftime deficit, thanks in no small part to a 33-5 advantage in free throw attempts, to move on to face No. 6 seed Purdue in the second round on Saturday.

"We defended well, shot well, rebounded well enough to out-rebound them, which is a tough task against Xavier," head coach Dennis Felton said.

"So we did a lot of things well, but I thought the game got separated in our inability to get to the line as much as Xavier."

But the Bulldogs (17-17) still had several opportunities to make a move on Xavier after falling behind 59-51 on Derrick Brown's 3-point play with 5:05 remaining.

The Musketeers forced a jump ball and took over possession when Sundiata Gaines drove into the lane at the 2:41 mark.

In one offensive sequence, a Terrance Woodbury 3-point attempt rattled out and Corey Butler missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity at the line.

The Bulldogs then missed three consecutive desperation 3-pointers as Xavier built on its lead with free throws.

Those were the types of plays that Georgia seemed to make every time it needed to last weekend when it won the SEC Tournament.

"The longer the game to me, the more we were able to wear them down," Xavier coach Sean Miller said.

"And I think we all know part of that reason was the energy they had to use this past weekend."

But Felton and several players dismissed the idea that fatigue played a factor in the outcome. Instead, they pointed to losing their offensive focus and, of course, the foul disparity.

"I would go in there and try to be real physical, and the ref would tell me 'Back up, back up,' or he was going to call a foul," sophomore forward Albert Jackson said. "I think it got in our heads a little bit."

It seemed the Bulldogs had the mental edge early, as they led by double digits midway through the second half. But Xavier went on an 8-0 run to take the lead with 7:18 to go and would never relinquish it.

Terrance Woodbury led Georgia with 16 points. Gaines and Jeremy Price also reached double figures.

Xavier forward Josh Duncan scored a game-high 20 points, going 11-of-14 at the free-throw line, while Brown recorded a double-double.

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