The final score in this one is less indicative of how close this game actually was. However, while Georgia didn't play a perfect game by any stretch of the imagination, it did make the plays that it had to make down the stretch to pull out a victory. Coming down the stretch, the Bulldogs had struggled from the free throw line much of the night but went on to hit 7-10 at crunch time to seal the victory.
Coming into the game, I talked much about how Georgia would have to slow down Colorado's backcourt combination of Cory Higgins and Alec Burks. The two combined to score 36 of the Buffaloes' 74 points but only shot 9 of 25 from the field. If not for their contribution from the free throw line, this game would have been a laugher. Higgins and Burks combined to make 18 of 23 free throws which were key in keeping Colorado in the game.
Gerald Robinson (21 points), Travis Leslie (19 points), and Jeremy Price (17 points) led the way for the Bulldogs. Chris Barnes came off the bench to score nine points and grab eight rebounds but went just 5 of 13 from the free throw line. As a team the Dawgs shot just 27-43 from the line and also committed 18 more turnovers in this one. Taking care of the basketball is going to have to be a priority as Georgia moves forward.
Coach Fox had this to say about his team's struggles from the free throw line:
"Our free-throw shooting was awful," Fox said. "I told our coaches in staff meeting the other day that our free-throw shooting was about to cost us and it almost did. I have not been happy about our approach when we shoot them in practice.
"Not to call myself Nostradamus, but I predicted that two days ago with our team. We didn’t shoot them well. We have some technique issues, when we don’t concentrate, that come creeping out."