Georgia Upsets No. 12 Mississippi
ATHENS, Ga. -- It was Larry Brown's biggest game of the season and it came in Georgia's biggest win.
Brown, a tight end on Georgia's football team, came off the bench to score eight of his 14 points in the second half -- including five straight in a late surge -- to lead the Bulldogs to a 70-68 victory over No. 12 Mississippi on Wednesday night.
Georgia (10-9, 2-5 Southeastern Conference) had lost its first five SEC games before beating Louisiana State 61-52 on Saturday and then upending the Rebels (14-3, 5-2), who had won 10 of their last 11.
"It was most definitely our biggest win of the season," said Brown, whose previous high was the 10 points he scored against LSU.
"We've played some great teams this year, and kind of fell on the short end," said Brown, who was averaging 3.0 points in his previous 11 games.
Georgia, which trailed 33-32 at halftime, took the lead for good at 50-48 on a basket by G.G. Smith with 8:24 to go.
The Rebels got within 54-53 before Brown scored five straight points to give Georgia some breathing room again at 59-53.
Brown made two free throws for a 56-53 lead with 6:37 left, then made a three-point play for the six-point margin with 5:21 to play. It was Georgia's last basket of the night.
Brown, a 79 percent free throw shooter, made three of four free throws over the final 34 seconds, including two with 19 seconds left for a 70-66 lead to clinch the win.
"Larry shot a good percentage from there again tonight and that's why we're comfortable with him in there late in the game," Georgia coach Ron Jirsa said.
The Bulldogs were 11-of -16 from the free throw line down the stretch and Mississippi never got closer than two points. Overall, Georgia was 24-of-31 (77 percent) from the foul line, with Brown going 8-of-9. The Rebels were 15-of-28 (54 percent) from the line.
"No. 1, we didn't make free throws," Mississippi coach Rob Evans said. "You've got to execute a little better on the road to be able to win in this league."
Smith had 13 points for Georgia, while Derrick Dukes came off the bench to add 12.
Keith Carter led Mississippi with 21 points and Ansu Sesay had 19.
"We had every chance to win this game," Carter said. "If you don't hit free throws, you can't win."
Georgia was 18-of-49 from the field (37 percent), including 10-of-25 from 3-point range.
Mississippi shot 50 percent (25-for-50) from the field, but was only 3-of-15 from 3-point range.
Georgia starting guard Ray Harrison was injured in the second half and did not return. The Bulldogs said he pulled a groin muscle and was listed as day-to-day.