Georgia Bulldogs lose to Alabama in Athens

ATHENS — Despite leading for almost 34 minutes, the Georgia men’s basketball team fell to No. 24 Alabama, 85-76, before an energetic 10,523 spectators inside Stegeman Coliseum on Wednesday evening.

The Bulldogs (14-7, 4-4 SEC) were led in scoring by both RJ Melendez and Noah Thomasson who each had 15 points. Melendez earned his third career double-double after contributing 10 rebounds and three steals. Russel Tchewa came one rebound shy of his fourth double-double of the season, posting 10 points and nine boards, while Silas Demary Jr. also reached 10 points. Georgia outrebounded Alabama (15-6, 7-1 SEC) by a 39-26 margin, marking its largest positive differential this season.

Georgia opened the game on a 17-2 run over the first eight minutes, capped off by 3-pointers on consecutive possessions by Melendez and Blue Cain, forcing an Alabama timeout. The Bulldogs held the Crimson Tide, the nation’s top-ranked scoring offense, to just 3-of-13 from the field over the first 10 minutes of the game. Georgia led 41-27 at the half, holding Alabama to its lowest point total in any half this season. Despite six turnovers to start the second frame, the Bulldogs maintained a double-digit lead at the under-12 media timeout. The Crimson Tide tied the game with just over five and a half minutes to go after back-to-back 3-pointers while holding Georgia without a field goal for over five minutes. Alabama took its first lead of the night with just over four minutes remaining off another long ball, 69-66. They went on to fend off Georgia’s comeback bid, handing the Bulldogs just their second home loss this season.

Georgia held Alabama, the top-ranked scoring offense in Division-I, to just 27 first-half points, marking the Crimson Tide’s lowest scoring output in any half this season.

RJ Melendez recorded his second double-double of the season after a 15-point, 10-rebound effort after only recording one in his previous two collegiate seasons.

Georgia’s next contest will come on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 1 p.m. ET against South Carolina inside Stegeman Coliseum. The game, which will be televised on the SEC Network, will mark the second meeting between the teams this season. The Bulldogs previously topped the Gamecocks on Jan. 16 in Columbia by a 74-69 margin.

The Bulldogs held the Crimson Tide to just 26 rebounds in the game, well below their season average of 39.8 boards per game.

Russel Tchewa brought in nine rebounds on Wednesday night, which was the fourth-straight game that the big man has recorded at least nine in the statistic.

Alabama was held to just eight made 3-pointers by Georgia on the night, which is tied for the third-fewest in a game this season.

Key Quote

Head Coach Mike White: “We’ve got to get healthy. We’ve got to hydrate. We’ve got to sleep. Four or five of these guys have got to get rest. It’ll be more of a mental approach tomorrow, and then Friday we’ll get after it a little bit, but it’ll be abbreviated. Here we go again with a 1:00 p.m. tip on Saturday. We’re going to need every ounce of energy we can get to guard those guys and to generate some offense.”

Contributed