Tchewa Comes Up Big For the Dawgs with Game Winner to Beat LSU
![Tchewa Comes Up Big For the Dawgs with Game Winner to Beat LSU Tchewa Comes Up Big For the Dawgs with Game Winner to Beat LSU](https://www.si.com/.image/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/MjAzODY4MzI3ODc1OTc4ODEy/usatsi_22365797.jpg)
Athens, GA – To quote UGA coach Mike White in “Game of Intensity," the Georgia Bulldogs came out on top in a 68-66 home win against the LSU Tigers. With this win, UGA improves to 14-5 overall and 4-2 in conference. Meanwhile, LSU drops to 11–8 and 3–3 in the SEC.
LSU hit first with a 3-point jumper made by freshman guard Mike Williams III, assisted by junior guard Jalen Cook, within the first minute of play. UGA was able to answer back with a layup from Russel Tchewa less than 40 seconds later. The game would reach a tie three times in the first half, but LSU would hold its ground for 10:16 of the first period, with its lead peaking at 6 points with 12:44 left. Georgia would take its first lead of the game with 8:09 left after graduate student guard Noah Thomasson made a jumper to make the score 17-15. From there, the two teams would go back and forth, battling it out for the lead until the Dawgs went on an 11-2 run to peak their lead at 7 points with 2:24 left in the period. LSU would cut this lead, but UGA remained on top 35-33 when the half closed.
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Out of halftime, both teams failed to score for over two minutes until junior guard R.J. Melendez went two for two shooting free throws for Georgia with 17:17 left. That was the start of a 6-0 run for the Bulldogs, in which Melendez would make a dunk assisted by freshman guard Silas Demary Jr. to take the score to 41-33, UGA, and get the crowd roaring. LSU responded with a 7-2 run that ended with 14:31 left and brought the game within 2 points. The Tigers tied the game at 50 a piece with 11:50 left. But, the Dawgs would go on an 11-2 run less than a minute and a half later to go up 61-52 with 5:48 left in the game. The Tigers outscored the Dawgs 10 to 3 over three minutes to close the gap to 2 points with two minutes left on the clock. Each team would go scoreless for over a minute and a half until Cook made a layup to tie the game 65-65 and a free throw after a Tchewa foul to put LSU up by 1 with 16 seconds left. After a Georgia timeout, a missed 3-pointer, and Stegman on their feet, Tchewa put together a layup and a free throw after a foul on his shot to put the Dawgs up 2 with two seconds left. The Tigers would miss a buzzer-beater 3-point shot, and the Dawgs would win the duel 68-66.
Along with his game-winning layup and free throw, Tchewa recorded his second double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds (4 offensive and 7 defensive). Demary Jr. lead the Dawgs in points with 15 and went 6 for 6 from the line. Cook was the leading scorer for the Tigers, putting up 21, and also led LSU in assists with 3. Senior guard Jordan Wright also had a big offensive game for the Tigers with 18 points, going 3 for 5 on 3-point attempts. The Dawgs finished shooting 43.1% from field goal range, 79.2% from the line, and 29.4% from 3-point range. In contrast, the Tigers went 38.6% for field goal range, 85.7% on free throws, and 85.7% from behind the arc.
When asked about what this win meant for momentum and to the team after coming off a battle last Saturday on the road at Kentucky, White said the win was “huge” and was an “emotional response” for the Dawgs. The Dawgs face Florida in a "tough environment” (White) on the road this Saturday at 12 PM EST.Other Georgia News:
Other Georgia News:
- UGA Suffers First Road Loss to No. 8 Kentucky
- UGA Ends South Carolina's 9-Game Home Win Streak in 74-69 Win
- UGA Puts Up Good Fight But Falls Short to Tennessee
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