Southeastern Conference Tournament: Despite blowing a 16-4 lead in the first half and trailing by three at intermission, No. 5E Georgia was able to pull the upset over No. 2E Kentucky in the last quarterfinal game. The game was tied at 54 when Ramel Bradley hit a jumper that bounced around for a moment before dropping with 8.8 seconds left. Georgia quickly came down the court, and the ball ended up in the hands of Zac Swansey, who nailed a three-pointer that would ultimately give the Bulldogs the 60-56 win. Because of the delayed start of the game, Georgia will be forced to play a second game Saturday night against No. 1E Mississippi State.
No. 6E Georgia completed its second upset of the day as it knocked off No. 1W Mississippi State 64-60. The Bulldogs senior leader, Sundiata Gaines, scored the first eight points for his team but was plagued by foul trouble. Gaines picked up his fifth foul with 7:18 left on a called charge and was injured on the play. Without their leader, nearly every Georgia player on the floor had a crucial shot in the final stretch. Billy Humphrey would score six of the team’s final seven points for the win. Gaines led the Bulldogs with 20 points despite his early exit. Charles Rhodes was the leading scorer for Mississippi State with 22. Georgia becomes the lowest seed to reach the tournament finals since the SEC expanded in 1992.
No. 2W Arkansas earned the first spot in the SEC championship as Steven Hill hit his only basket of the game in the closing seconds to give the Razorbacks a 92-91 win over No. 1E Tennessee. The stars from both teams shined throughout the game as each team shot over 50 percent from the field. The score was tied 12 times and the lead changed hands 19 times. The trio of Chris Lofton, Tyler Smith, and JaJuan Smith accounted for 67 of the Vols’ 91 points. Charles Thomas led Arkansas with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Patrick Beverly added 17 points and seven rebounds for the Hogs. [3/15/08]
