Auburn delivers crushing blow to UGA in final seconds

Forward Chuma Okeke just beat the shot clock with a 27-foot 3-pointer with 26.3 seconds remaining to break a 75-75 tie and give Auburn a 78-75 victory over Georgia in a Southeastern Conference clash Wednesday night in Athens, Ga.

Guard Jared Harper scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Tigers (19-9, 8-7 SEC). Okeke’s decisive basket was just his second triple of the game and gave him 13 points.

The Bulldogs (10-18 1-14 SEC) mishandled the ball and guard Tyree Crump had to rush a 3-point try that missed in the closing seconds. Senior guard Jordan Harris scored a career-high 18 points to lead the Bulldogs, who have lost 13 consecutive league games and nine in a row overall.

The Bulldogs turned the game completely around to start the second half, going on a 13-0 run to overcome a 12-point deficit and take a 58-57 lead on guard Derek Ogbeide’s layup at the 11:07 mark before the Tigers finally ended a 6 minute, 42 second scoring drought on guard J’Von McCormick’s layup.

The two teams were tied at 67 with 6:27 remaining when Auburn went on a 6-0 run, but Georgia came right back, tying the game at 75-75 on guard Nicolas Claxton’s 3-pointer with 54.7 seconds remaining.

Both teams were without key players. Auburn center Austin Wiley (8.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg) did not make the trip to Athens while nursing a leg injury and forward Rayshaun Hammonds, Georgia’s No. 2 scorer (12.6 ppg) and rebounder (6.3 rpg), was out with a foot injury. Auburn also was without key reserve Malik Dunbar, who was dealing with an injury.

Auburn started the game only 1 of from 3-point range but hit five consecutive 3s for a 30-20 lead with 8:36 left in the first half. The Bulldogs cut that gap in half over the next minute, but the Tigers got their cushion back up to 14 points at 50-36 before going to the locker room up 50-40 at the intermission.