Arkansas 80 vs. Georgia 67
”Razorbacks” put a muzzle on the “Bulldogs”
Gaylord Entertainment Center - Nashville, TN

A NIT bid for the Georgia “Bulldogs” maybe, but I doubt it, especially after being totally out played by the Arkansas “Razorbacks” in their 1^st round loss in the SEC Tournament. I know UGA Head Coach Dennis Felton would love to be playing in the post season but his team has big problems and he knows it. The chemistry on this team is bad and it may have gotten worse with the selfish way they played and lost to Arkansas.

My bad Arkansas fans just letting out a little frustration, the “Razorbacks” did their thing; hats off to Head Coach Stan Heath and his staff for the way his team played together in this win.

Georgia started the game like they were ready for the challenge as former Brookwood High School star 6-4 So.-Channing Toney drilled a pair of three-pointers. Arkansas responded behind their outstanding 6-7 Jr.-Ronnie Brewer who scored 5 points to pull the “Razorbacks” to within 3 at 8-5.

Arkansas took their first lead of the game at the 16:25 mark when Brewer scored again; Toney hit another jumper to put the “Bulldogs” back in front 10-9.

Another former local area high school star 6-4 Fr.-Mike Mercer (South Gwinntt High School), who was recently named to the SEC’s All-Freshman Team entered the game and made his presence felt right away drilling a pair of long three-pointers that gave Georgia a 16-15 lead.

Neither team appeared to have any real plan on how they wanted to play the game as they raced up and down the court taking turns jacking up shots.

With under 10:00 minutes left in the 1^st half the “Razorbacks” 6-5 Sr.-Jonathan Modica went to work scoring 6 points as Arkansas opened up their biggest lead of the game 30-20. With 5:29 on the clock the senior hit a pair of free-throws to make it 34-25.

Levi Stukes a 6-2 junior knocked down a three-pointer for Georgia to pull the “Bulldogs” to within six, 36-28. Backcourt mate 6-1 So.-Sundiata Gaines scored on a lay-up moments later as Georgia went into the half trailing 40-35. 

Early in the 2^nd half Arkansas’s 6-1 Sr.-Eric Ferguson and 6-8 Fr.-Charles Thomas got busy, Fergusson drilled a three-pointer and scored on a lay-up while Thomas pounded the glass and scored 7 points as the “Razorbacks” opened a 50-38 lead.

Georgia has five guards (Mercer, Stukes, Gains, Toney and Billy Humphrey, who is defiantly in the “DAWG House) who can ball, but they can’t do it on the court together in any combination and Coach Felton HAS TO address this issue. Mercier and Stokes both scored for Georgia but it didn’t make a dent as Arkansas started seizing control of the game.

Two scores by the “Razorbacks” 6-10 So.-Darian Townes pushed Arkansas’s lead to 60-43. Mercier hit another jumper and then drained his 2^nd three-pointer of the game and Humphrey, who just didn’t play like he did earlier in the season hit a pair of free-throws to cut the lead to 64-50.

With 6:34 to play Brewer drilled a three-pointer as the Arkansas lead blossomed to over 20 points, 75-54. With the call of Pig –Sueee coming from the “Razorbacks” faithful Arkansas went on to a big 80-67 win. Arkansas will meet Florida in 2^nd round SEC action on Friday.

Scoring Recap

Arkansas:

Jonathon Modica scored a game high 20 points to pace Arkansas. Ronnie Brewer finished with 18 points and 5 assists. Eric Ferguson added 16 points and 7 rebounds. Charles Thomas chipped in with 14 points and 6 rebounds.

Georgia:

Mike Mercer led Georgia with 16 points. Younes Idrissi finished with 14 points and 7 rebounds. Channing Toney added 10 points and Sundiata Gaines and Levi Stukes each chipped in with 9 points. Gaines also had 7 rebounds and 4 assists.

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