Arkansas Gets Gritty Win over Georgia

FAYETTEVILLE – Adou Thiero and Karter Knox led Arkansas to the second-largest, come-from-behind win (tied) in Bud Walton Arena history, turning a 12-point halftime deficit into a 68-65 victory over Georgia Wednesday night.

More amazing, Arkansas, which took its first lead with 4:40 left, only led for 29 seconds in the game. (NOTE: Almost four years ago to the date, Arkansas trailed Auburn by 12 at halftime, 43-31, only to win 75-73 on Jan. 20, 2021.) Arkansas also played without starting point guard Boogie Fland, who had successful thumb surgery on Wednesday (Jan. 22).

Thiero recorded his fourth career double-double – third this year – with 17 points and 11 rebounds. He also made two of the biggest plays in the win down the stretch. First, he blocked a shot with 1:34 left to keep the game tied. Then, with 30 seconds left, he made a jumper in the paint for a 2-point lead.  Georgia tied the game with 14 seconds left on a pair of free throws by Asa Newell. On Arkansas’ ensuing possession, Thiero grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled with 1.8 seconds left. He made the first one and missed the second but got his own rebound and putback as the buzzer sounded for the three-point win.

Overall, Thiero scored 11 second-half points (7-of-8 from the free throw line) with six rebounds. Knox scored 2 of his 13 points in the second half, going 10-of-11 at the line.

Not only were the Razorbacks down 12 at halftime, but the Hogs went down 15 (48-33) with 15:24 left in the second half. From that point, Arkansas trimmed its deficit to 10 points three times over the next three minutes but Georgia answered each time.

Arkansas’ first big run was a 12-2 spurt that was highlighted by an old-fashion 3-point play by Karter Knox to get the Razorbacks to within one (54-53 with 7:51 left). However, Georgia was able to hold the lead over the next three minutes.

Knox gave Arkansas its first tie and lead with two free throws for a 58-58 advantage with 4:40 left. The Bulldogs regained the lead when Silas Demary Jr., made an old-fashion 3-point play to go up 61-59 with 4:29 left.

Neither team scored over the next two minutes until Knox made two free throws. Georgia answered with a RJ Godfrey basket. D.J. Wagner knotted the game at 63 with two free throws and 1:55 left. Neither team scored over the next minute but Johnell Davis made the second-biggest defensive play of the game with a steal with 53 seconds left. From that point, Arkansas called timeout and Theiro took over for the final 30 seconds.

Davis finished with seven points and three steals.

Georgia was led by Newell’s 18 points and eight rebounds

Arkansas stays home to host Oklahoma on Saturday (Jan. 25) at 7:30 pm (CT).

FIRST HALF: Arkansas: 26 – Georgia: 38

• Georgia scored first and held the advantage the whole first half.
• Arkansas out-rebounded Georgia 19-18 in the first half, thanks to Adou Thiero’s five boards and Zvonimir Ivisic’s four, but the Razorbacks committed seven first-half turnovers compared to just four by Georgia.
• The difference in the first half was Georgia going 5-of-9 from 3-point range.
• Arkansas missed its first 10 3-point attempts until Zvonimir Ivisic made one with three seconds left in the period.

SECOND HALF: Arkansas: 42 – Georgia: 27

• Arkansas outscored Georgia by 15 in the second half. However, Arkansas only shot 29% from the field while Georgia shot 47.1%.
• Arkansas was just 2-of-12 from 3-point range in the second half, but Georgia was 0-of-5 after going 5-of-9 in the first half.
• Arkansas out-rebounded Georgia, 21-12, in the second half with 13 offensive rebounds. The Razorbacks scored 23 of its 33 second-chance points in the second half.

GAME NOTES:

• For the first time this season, Arkansas’ starting lineup was D.J. Wagner, Johnell Davis, Karter Knox, Adou Thiero and Jonas Aidoo.
• Georgia won the opening tip. It was just the fourth time this year the Razorbacks did not win the opening tip.
• Georgia’s RJ Godfrey scored the game’s first points, a jumper in the lane at 19:36. Arkansas’ first points came from Adou Thiero on a putback dunk at 17:25.
• Zvonimir Ivisic and Trevon Brazile were Arkansas’ first subs.
• Georgia, South Carolina and Ole Miss led for 1019:14 seconds of 120 minutes of game time and all three teams lost. Georgia led for 36:48 of the 40 minutes versus Arkansas. Arkansas took its first lead at 4:40 in the second half.
• The largest halftime deficit Arkansas has overcome in Bud Walton was overcoming a 13-point deficit (37-24) when beating Alabama 65-63 on Feb. 21, 2006. Overall, the 12-point come-from-behind win tonight ties for ninth overall.
• It marked the 23rd time Arkansas has won a game when trailing by as many as 10 at halftime.
• Arkansas and Georgia have met on 45 previous occasions, all coming since the Razorbacks joined the SEC for the 1991-92 season.
• Arkansas leads the all-time series 28-17 versus the Bulldogs including a 15-3 mark in games played in Fayetteville.
• Arkansas has won 11 of the last 14, including eight straight in Bud Walton Arena.
• Overcoming a 15-point deficit tied for the second-best overall come-from-behind win this season. Arkansas also trailed Michigan by 15 (36-21) with 6:27 left in the first half.
• This year, Arkansas is 5-5 when trailing at halftime. Arkansas is 2-7 when trailing with 10 minutes left, 2-7 when trailing with five minutes left and 1-7 when trailing with two minutes left.

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