League-worst Georgia throttles Arkansas 81-59

By The Associated Press

Posted: February 8, 2012 at 9:13 p.m.
Updated: February 8, 2012 at 10:16 p.m.

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The Associated Press
Georgia guard Gerald Robinson (22) shoots a lay up while defended by Arkansas guard Julysses Nobles (23), left, and Arkansas guard Rashad Madden (00) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/The Athens Banner-Herald, AJ Reynolds)

ATHENS, Ga. — Exactly three weeks after their last win, Gerald Robinson and his Georgia teammates finally snapped a four-game losing streak that had the Bulldogs sitting at the bottom of the SEC standings.

Robinson scored a career-high 27 points and Georgia beat Arkansas 81-59 on Wednesday night to keep the Razorbacks winless on the road.

"We were determined to get a win," Robinson said. "We needed it bad."

Robinson made 10 of 13 shots and added six rebounds and five assists.

"Gerald played phenomenal for us," said Georgia coach Mark Fox. "We ask him to do so much for us, and when you look at it, it really isn't fair how much we ask of him. Tonight he finished a lot of plays early for us and helped set the tone for us. Then he continued to finish and help us all game."

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 18 points as Georgia (11-12, 2-7 Southeastern Conference) won its first game since beating Tennessee in overtime on Jan. 18. The Bulldogs led by 19 at halftime and stretched the lead to 27 points about 6 minutes into the second half.

Arkansas (16-8, 4-5) fell to 0-7 on the road, including 0-5 away from Fayetteville in SEC games.

It was a disappointing loss for the Razorbacks, which began the night tied for sixth in the SEC.

"I thought it was one of the worst performances; it was just flat," said Arkansas coach Mike Anderson. "There was no energy. Out of all the people that are surprised, I would be the most surprised because I thought we'd come out and really defend and give ourselves a chance but we just didn't."

BJ Young led Arkansas with 16 points. Mardracus Wade made five 3-pointers and had 15 points for the Razorbacks, who have lost two straight and three of four.

"We've really been struggling on the road and we thought for sure that we'd come in and get a win, but it didn't turn out that way," Wade said.

"Georgia came out more aggressive than us. They came out knocking down shots. We were playing a little passive. I guess Georgia fed off that."

Georgia, which had been held under 70 points in its first eight conference games, made nine 3-pointers.

"People just looked more confident out there," Robinson said.

Arkansas never led and there was only one tie, at 8-8. At that point, Robinson scored to spark a 15-0 run. The Bulldogs kept the lead in double figures the rest of the game.

Georgia finished with a 44-21 advantage in rebounds, made 9 of 20 3-pointers and 30 of 57 shots overall (52.6 percent).

"That's as well as we've played maybe all year, I don't think there's any question about that," Fox said.

Nemanja Djurisic had 14 points and Marcus Thornton added 10 for the Bulldogs. Robinson, a senior, scored Georgia's first six points and easily topped his previous career high of 22 points.

Georgia starting guard Dustin Ware, usually the team's top 3-point shooter, did not score while missing each of his eight shots. Ware led Georgia with six assists.

Fox said he had seen signs of improvement from his team in practice the last week.

"I felt like we were starting to get some confidence in what we're doing," he said.

Caldwell-Pope said the early 15-0 run was important to boost the Bulldogs' confidence.

"It was big. We needed that," he said. "We didn't want them sticking around with us in the second half."

Georgia, last in the league with its average of 56.2 points in SEC games, set a season high for points in a first half by leading 43-24 at the break.

The Bulldogs made five 3-pointers in the half, including three by Caldwell-Pope.

Arkansas, frustrated by missed layups, made only 6 of 23 shots from the field and was outrebounded 25-10 in the half.

Thornton, who had been held without a field goal in five straight games since missing five games following arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, ended his drought by sinking a 3-pointer midway through the first half. Thornton beat the shot clock with another 3 in the second half.

Arkansas senior forward Michael Sanchez left with an apparent right shoulder injury with 11:13 remaining. He was escorted to the locker room and returned to the bench with ice wrapped around the shoulder.

Comments

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This was the worst showing we've had in a LONG time. We played better in Rupp Arena. I think we've reached a mental block point and we better do something to snap out of this road funk.

Posted by: AutopilotAR

February 8, 2012 at 10:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )