UGA

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Late free throws lift South Carolina past Georgia 61-55

AP
Mar 04, 2023

COLUMBIA (AP) Meechie Johnson scored 18 points and Jacobi Wright had 14 and the pair combined for five free throws in the last 3.6 seconds to give South Carolina a 61-55 win over Georgia on Saturday to close the regular season.

Johnson made 1 of 2 free throws with 7.6 seconds to go for a 56-53 lead for the Gamecocks, who chose to intentionally foul before the Bulldogs could attempt a tying 3-pointer.

Justin Hill converted the one-and-one for Georgia at 4.6 seconds - giving him 1,001 points for his career - but on the inbounds, as Terry Roberts fouled Wright, Roberts was given a technical for grabbing Wright's foot after the whistle.

Wright made three of the four free throws to make it 59-55 and Johnson was fouled on the ensuing possession with his free throws at 2.1 seconds making it the biggest lead for either team in the second half.

Hayden Brown scored 13 points for the Gamecocks (11-20, 4-14 SEC), who snapped a three-game losing streak with their first home SEC win. Josh Gray had 11 rebounds and Johnson had seven assists.

Roberts had 14 points for the Bulldogs (16-15, 6-12), who have lost five straight, and Braele Bridges had 12.

It was a fitting game for teams that will be the 11th (Georgia) and 12th seeds (South Carolina) for opening-round games of the SEC Tournament on Wednesday in Nashville, as well as teams that produced a close first game, won by the Bulldogs 81-78 in overtime to snap a 12-game losing streak in the series.

Johnson's layup to open the scoring in the second half tied it at 27 and then Georgia scored four. The teams traded baskets before the Gamecocks scored six and from the 16:24 mark neither team would lead by more than two until Johnson's free throw at 7.6 seconds.

UP NEXT

Georgia opens league tournament play against LSU on Wednesday. A win would pit the Bulldogs against Vanderbilt on Thursday.

South Carolina faces Ole Miss on Wednesday night in the opening round of the league tournament and the winner would face Missouri on Thursday.

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More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

1st Half
UGA
Bulldogs
27
SCAR
Gamecocks
25

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Braelen Bridges vs. Josh Gray (Gamecocks gains possession)
19:48		Hayden Brown misses two point jump shot
19:46		Jailyn Ingram defensive rebound
19:21		Jailyn Ingram misses three point jump shot
19:19		Josh Gray defensive rebound
18:59		Jacobi Wright misses two point layup
18:57		Hayden Brown offensive rebound
18:54	+2	Hayden Brown makes two point dunk	0-2
18:44		Jailyn Ingram turnover (Josh Gray steals)
18:26		Hayden Brown misses three point jump shot
18:24		Bulldogs defensive rebound
18:13		Braelen Bridges turnover (Jacobi Wright steals)
18:07	+2	Meechie Johnson makes two point layup (Hayden Brown assists)	0-4
17:40		Kario Oquendo misses three point jump shot
17:38		Josh Gray defensive rebound
17:23	+3	Jacobi Wright makes three point jump shot (Meechie Johnson assists)	0-7
16:57		Kario Oquendo turnover (Jacobi Wright steals)
16:40		Gregory Jackson II misses two point layup
16:39		Bulldogs defensive rebound
16:11	+2	Jailyn Ingram makes two point jump shot	2-7
15:52		Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk misses two point layup
15:50		Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk offensive rebound
15:44		Frank Anselem blocks Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk's two point layup
15:42		Frank Anselem defensive rebound
15:38	+3	Mardrez McBride makes three point jump shot	5-7
15:23		Meechie Johnson misses two point layup
15:21		Terry Roberts defensive rebound
15:14		Hayden Brown shooting foul (Justin Hill draws the foul)
15:14		TV timeout
15:14	+1	Justin Hill makes regular free throw 1 of 2	6-7
15:14	+1	Justin Hill makes regular free throw 2 of 2	7-7
14:53		Meechie Johnson turnover (lost ball)
14:24	+3	Terry Roberts makes three point jump shot (Frank Anselem assists)	10-7
13:57		Josh Gray turnover (out of bounds)
13:40	+2	Terry Roberts makes two point jump shot	12-7
13:13	+2	Jacobi Wright makes two point jump shot	12-9
12:48		Terry Roberts turnover (Gregory Jackson II steals)
12:44		Gregory Jackson II misses three point jump shot
12:42		Terry Roberts defensive rebound
12:23		Mardrez McBride turnover (Zachary Davis steals)
12:19	+2	Zachary Davis makes two point dunk (Meechie Johnson assists)	12-11
11:49		Mardrez McBride misses three point jump shot
11:47		Josh Gray defensive rebound
11:38		Meechie Johnson turnover (Justin Hill steals)
11:38		Meechie Johnson flagrant 1
11:38		TV timeout
11:38	+1	Justin Hill makes regular free throw 1 of 2	13-11
11:38	+1	Justin Hill makes regular free throw 2 of 2	14-11
11:17		Jailyn Ingram misses three point jump shot
11:15		Jusaun Holt offensive rebound
11:09		Justin Hill turnover (Zachary Davis steals)
11:00		Josh Gray misses two point jump shot
10:58		Josh Gray offensive rebound
10:57		Frank Anselem blocks Josh Gray's two point layup
10:57		Gamecocks offensive rebound
10:49		Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
10:47		Jusaun Holt defensive rebound
10:33		Gregory Jackson II blocks Braelen Bridges's two point jump shot
10:31		Gregory Jackson II defensive rebound
10:02		Justin Hill personal foul
10:02		Gamecocks turnover (shot clock violation)
9:51		Tre-Vaughn Minott blocks Braelen Bridges's two point layup
9:49		Braelen Bridges offensive rebound
9:48		Zachary Davis blocks Braelen Bridges's two point layup
9:46		Zachary Davis defensive rebound
9:37		Zachary Davis misses three point jump shot
9:35		Eli Sparkman offensive rebound
9:19	+2	Tre-Vaughn Minott makes two point dunk (Meechie Johnson assists)	14-13
9:07	+2	Braelen Bridges makes two point layup (Terry Roberts assists)	16-13
8:37		Eli Sparkman misses three point jump shot
8:35		Jabri Abdur-Rahim defensive rebound
8:22	+2	Terry Roberts makes two point jump shot	18-13
8:04		Terry Roberts shooting foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul)
8:04	+1	Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 3	18-14
8:04		Meechie Johnson misses regular free throw 2 of 3
8:04	+1	Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 3 of 3	18-15
7:44		Terry Roberts misses three point jump shot
7:42		Hayden Brown defensive rebound
7:23		TV timeout
7:14		Jacobi Wright misses two point jump shot
7:12		Bulldogs defensive rebound
6:55		Mardrez McBride turnover (bad pass)
6:41		Gregory Jackson II misses two point jump shot
6:39		Mardrez McBride defensive rebound
6:33	+3	Mardrez McBride makes three point jump shot (Kario Oquendo assists)	21-15
6:13		Jacobi Wright turnover (Jusaun Holt steals)
6:09	+2	Jusaun Holt makes two point layup	23-15
5:49	+3	Gregory Jackson II makes three point jump shot	23-18
5:23		Terry Roberts misses three point jump shot
5:21		Josh Gray defensive rebound
5:06		Gregory Jackson II turnover (Frank Anselem steals)
5:02		Gregory Jackson II shooting foul (Mardrez McBride draws the foul)
5:02	+1	Mardrez McBride makes regular free throw 1 of 2	24-18
5:02	+1	Mardrez McBride makes regular free throw 2 of 2	25-18
4:45		Jacobi Wright turnover (Jusaun Holt steals)
4:29		Kario Oquendo misses three point jump shot
4:27		Jusaun Holt offensive rebound
4:12		Gregory Jackson II blocks Kario Oquendo's two point layup
4:10		Hayden Brown defensive rebound
3:51		Jacobi Wright misses three point jump shot
3:49		Hayden Brown offensive rebound
3:48		Frank Anselem shooting foul (Hayden Brown draws the foul)
3:48		TV timeout
3:48	+1	Hayden Brown makes regular free throw 1 of 2	25-19
3:48	+1	Hayden Brown makes regular free throw 2 of 2	25-20
3:22		Kario Oquendo misses three point jump shot
3:20		Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk defensive rebound
2:54	+2	Hayden Brown makes two point layup (Meechie Johnson assists)	25-22
2:43		Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk blocks Frank Anselem's two point jump shot
2:41		Jacobi Wright defensive rebound
2:19		Mardrez McBride personal foul
2:12		Gregory Jackson II misses two point jump shot
2:10		Josh Gray offensive rebound
2:09		Frank Anselem shooting foul (Josh Gray draws the foul)
2:09		Josh Gray misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:09	+1	Josh Gray makes regular free throw 2 of 2	25-23
1:57		Mardrez McBride misses three point jump shot
1:55		Meechie Johnson defensive rebound
1:45		Josh Gray offensive foul
1:45		Josh Gray turnover (offensive foul)
1:21		Mardrez McBride turnover (Zachary Davis steals)
1:17		Gregory Jackson II misses two point dunk
1:15		Kario Oquendo defensive rebound
1:10	+2	Kario Oquendo makes two point layup	27-23
0:51	+2	Meechie Johnson makes two point layup	27-25
0:28		Braelen Bridges misses two point jump shot
0:26		Braelen Bridges offensive rebound
0:23		Josh Gray blocks Braelen Bridges's two point layup
0:21		Josh Gray defensive rebound
0:00		Mardrez McBride blocks Zachary Davis's two point layup
0:00		Gamecocks offensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
UGA
Bulldogs
28
SCAR
Gamecocks
36

Time		Play	Score
19:44		Terry Roberts misses two point jump shot
19:42		Josh Gray defensive rebound
19:25	+2	Meechie Johnson makes two point layup	27-27
19:01	+2	Braelen Bridges makes two point layup (Jailyn Ingram assists)	29-27
18:39		Jacobi Wright misses three point jump shot
18:37		Josh Gray offensive rebound
18:31		Josh Gray misses two point layup
18:31		Hayden Brown offensive rebound
18:31		Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
18:29		Bulldogs defensive rebound
18:05		Frank Anselem turnover (3-second violation)
17:43		Frank Anselem shooting foul (Josh Gray draws the foul)
17:43		Josh Gray misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:43		Hayden Brown turnover (lane violation)
17:29		Josh Gray shooting foul (Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe draws the foul)
17:29	+1	Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe makes regular free throw 1 of 2	30-27
17:29	+1	Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe makes regular free throw 2 of 2	31-27
17:19	+2	Gregory Jackson II makes two point jump shot (Meechie Johnson assists)	31-29
17:07	+2	Terry Roberts makes two point layup	33-29
16:56		Meechie Johnson turnover
16:48		Jabri Abdur-Rahim misses three point jump shot
16:46		Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk defensive rebound
16:28		Gregory Jackson II misses three point jump shot
16:26		Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk offensive rebound
16:18	+2	Jacobi Wright makes two point layup	33-31
15:59		Kario Oquendo misses three point jump shot
15:57		Gamecocks defensive rebound
15:57		TV timeout
15:34		Jusaun Holt shooting foul (Gregory Jackson II draws the foul)
15:34	+1	Gregory Jackson II makes regular free throw 1 of 2	33-32
15:34	+1	Gregory Jackson II makes regular free throw 2 of 2	33-33
15:08		Justin Hill offensive foul
15:08		Justin Hill turnover (offensive foul)
14:58		Jabri Abdur-Rahim personal foul
14:45		Hayden Brown misses three point jump shot
14:43		Terry Roberts defensive rebound
14:31		Jusaun Holt turnover (back court violation)
14:13		Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
14:11		Gregory Jackson II offensive rebound
14:06		Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk misses two point layup
14:05		Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk offensive rebound
13:59	+2	Meechie Johnson makes two point layup	33-35
13:48	+3	Terry Roberts makes three point jump shot	36-35
13:33		Jabri Abdur-Rahim personal foul
13:13		Gamecocks turnover (shot clock violation)
12:58		Justin Hill misses three point jump shot
12:56		Gamecocks defensive rebound
12:36		Frank Anselem shooting foul (Jacobi Wright draws the foul)
12:36		Jacobi Wright misses regular free throw 1 of 2
12:36	+1	Jacobi Wright makes regular free throw 2 of 2	36-36
12:24		Mardrez McBride turnover
12:07		Josh Gray turnover (3-second violation)
11:53		Hayden Brown personal foul
11:53		TV timeout
11:53	+1	Braelen Bridges makes regular free throw 1 of 2	37-36
11:53		Braelen Bridges misses regular free throw 2 of 2
11:53		Josh Gray defensive rebound
11:23		Hayden Brown turnover (Kario Oquendo steals)
11:15	+2	Braelen Bridges makes two point jump shot	39-36
10:50	+2	Hayden Brown makes two point layup (Josh Gray assists)	39-38
10:50		Mardrez McBride shooting foul (Hayden Brown draws the foul)
10:50	+1	Hayden Brown makes regular free throw 1 of 1	39-39
10:28	+2	Terry Roberts makes two point jump shot	41-39
10:14	+2	Hayden Brown makes two point layup	41-41
9:59		Josh Gray personal foul
9:44		Justin Hill misses three point jump shot
9:42		Gregory Jackson II defensive rebound
9:29		Gregory Jackson II misses three point jump shot
9:27		Josh Gray offensive rebound
9:26		Josh Gray misses two point layup
9:24		Josh Gray offensive rebound
9:22	+2	Josh Gray makes two point dunk	41-43
9:16		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
9:16		TV timeout
9:04		Gregory Jackson II personal foul
9:02		Jabri Abdur-Rahim misses three point jump shot
9:00		Gregory Jackson II defensive rebound
8:38		Hayden Brown misses two point jump shot
8:36		Jailyn Ingram defensive rebound
8:23		Zachary Davis personal foul
8:12		Terry Roberts misses two point jump shot
8:10		Terry Roberts offensive rebound
7:49		Justin Hill misses three point jump shot
7:47		Terry Roberts offensive rebound
7:40	+2	Braelen Bridges makes two point jump shot (Justin Hill assists)	43-43
7:20		Jailyn Ingram shooting foul (Gregory Jackson II draws the foul)
7:20		TV timeout
7:20		Gregory Jackson II misses regular free throw 1 of 2
7:20		Gregory Jackson II misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:20		Braelen Bridges defensive rebound
7:10		Jacobi Wright personal foul
6:53		Terry Roberts misses three point jump shot
6:51		Zachary Davis defensive rebound
6:41		Meechie Johnson misses two point jump shot
6:40		Bulldogs defensive rebound
6:25		Justin Hill turnover (bad pass)
5:54		Justin Hill blocks Meechie Johnson's two point jump shot
5:54		Meechie Johnson offensive rebound
5:54		Gamecocks turnover (shot clock violation)
5:34		Terry Roberts misses three point jump shot
5:32		Josh Gray defensive rebound
5:13	+2	Hayden Brown makes two point layup (Meechie Johnson assists)	43-45
4:58	+2	Justin Hill makes two point layup	45-45
4:39		Hayden Brown misses two point layup
4:38		Gamecocks offensive rebound
4:28		Mardrez McBride shooting foul (Jacobi Wright draws the foul)
4:28		Jacobi Wright misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:28	+1	Jacobi Wright makes regular free throw 2 of 2	45-46
4:13		Mardrez McBride misses three point jump shot
4:11		Braelen Bridges offensive rebound
4:09	+2	Braelen Bridges makes two point layup	47-46
4:09		Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk shooting foul (Braelen Bridges draws the foul)
4:09	+1	Braelen Bridges makes regular free throw 1 of 1	48-46
3:49	+2	Gregory Jackson II makes two point jump shot (Meechie Johnson assists)	48-48
3:33		Jailyn Ingram misses two point jump shot
3:31		Gamecocks defensive rebound
3:31		TV timeout
3:10	+2	Jacobi Wright makes two point layup	48-50
2:51		Jailyn Ingram misses two point jump shot
2:49		Gregory Jackson II defensive rebound
2:28		Gregory Jackson II turnover (Jailyn Ingram steals)
2:18	+3	Jusaun Holt makes three point jump shot (Mardrez McBride assists)	51-50
1:58		Braelen Bridges personal foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul)
1:58		Meechie Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:58	+1	Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	51-51
1:53		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
1:43		Terry Roberts misses two point layup
1:40		Bulldogs offensive rebound
1:35		Braelen Bridges turnover (traveling)
1:16	+2	Meechie Johnson makes two point jump shot	51-53
0:55	+2	Jailyn Ingram makes two point layup	53-53
0:40		Jailyn Ingram personal foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul)
0:40	+1	Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	53-54
0:40	+1	Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	53-55
0:32		Terry Roberts turnover (lost ball)
0:28		Gamecocks 30 second timeout
0:27		Gregory Jackson II turnover (Mardrez McBride steals)
0:19		Terry Roberts misses two point jump shot
0:18		Zachary Davis defensive rebound
0:18		Mardrez McBride personal foul
0:18		Zachary Davis misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:18		Zachary Davis misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:18		Frank Anselem defensive rebound
0:11		Justin Hill misses two point layup
0:10		Gamecocks defensive rebound
0:10		Gamecocks 30 second timeout
0:07		Justin Hill personal foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul)
0:07		Meechie Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:07	+1	Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	53-56
0:07		Gamecocks 30 second timeout
0:04		Meechie Johnson personal foul (Justin Hill draws the foul)
0:04	+1	Justin Hill makes regular free throw 1 of 2	54-56
0:04	+1	Justin Hill makes regular free throw 2 of 2	55-56
0:03		Terry Roberts technical foul
0:03		Jacobi Wright misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:03	+1	Jacobi Wright makes regular free throw 2 of 2	55-57
0:03	+1	Jacobi Wright makes technical free throw 1 of 2	55-58
0:03	+1	Jacobi Wright makes technical free throw 2 of 2	55-59
0:02		Jusaun Holt personal foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul)
0:02	+1	Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	55-60
0:02	+1	Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	55-61
0:00		End of period

+ 1

Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2