Georgia survives late push from Xavier to advance in NIT

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia Basketball is moving on in the NIT after a 78-76 win over Xavier Tuesday night in Athens. The Bulldogs needed a couple of stops in the last minute to survive the scare from the Musketeers, leading by as many as 21 in the second half before the push down the stretch.

Four UGA players scored in double figures, led by Silas Demary’s 16. RJ Melendez poured in 14 while Noah Thomasson and Justin Hill added 12 and 10. Russel Tchewa and Dylan James tied for the team-high six rebounds, but it was a big block by Tchewa in the final few seconds that acted as his biggest contribution. Tchewa also tied for the team-high total of assists with four.

Meanwhile for Xavier, Desmond Claude did the most damage with 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting including 5-of-6 from 3-point range. He was one of four Musketeers in double-figures including Abou Ousmane who had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

How It Happened…

Georgia got on the board first in the opening frame and led the majority of the way. Big man Russel Tchewa scored six of the team’s first 10 and assisted on another early bucket. The six points were all for him the first half, but the passing was a consistent theme as he led the way for Georgia on its way into the locker room with a trio of assists.

The Bulldogs took the lead on Tchewa’s first make from the field and either were tied or ahead until the break. A dunk by RJ Melendez provided some energy before Justin Hill heated up with back-to-back made 3-pointers that put Georgia up by eight just past the halfway point. Hill would finish the first half as one of the game’s two double-figure scorers alongside Xavier’s Abou Ousmane, both with 10 points.

Xavier got to within a couple of scores at multiple points in the first half, but it was a late push by the Bulldogs that sent them into the locker room with their largest lead to that point. Scoring six straight including a Melendez steal and score off of a sideline inbounds pass with 4.1 seconds to go, Georgia went in with a 46-34 advantage over the Musketeers.

Georgia came out early in the second half and kept the momentum going. The lead was extended to 14 by the first media timeout and 21 shortly after. Melendez slammed home another dunk before knocking down a 3-pointer to put the Bulldogs ahead by 21 with 13:48 to go. That brought on a timeout from Xavier.

While the Musketeers responded with a trio of 3-pointers to try and cut into the deficit, it was too little too late. Georgia remained ahead by 15 with 10:00 to go, having already hit a 70-point mark that had alluded the Bulldogs so many times this season in complete games.

Xavier used a strong second half from Desmond Claude to slowly but surely cut into Georgia’s lead. After a 3-pointer from him with 4:49 to go, the advantage was down to single digits, and it was as close as four with 2:41 to go. The Musketeers scored 30 of the game’s 41 in a stretch of just under 10:00, and got to within a single bucket with 1:35 left thank to Dayvion McKnight. With a chance to tie, a steal from Demary and a score on the other end with under a half minute to go gave the Bulldogs some breathing room.

Sean Miller’s Musketeers had a couple of opportunities down the stretch, getting to within two with 11 seconds left before forcing a Georgia turnover. Xavier then inbounded with a chance to tie or take the lead with both 6.4 and 1.9 seconds left, having a shot blocked by Tchewa on the first attempt before not getting one up the second time.

What’s Next…

With the win, Georgia – now guaranteed a winning season at 18-16 overall – advances out of the first round for the ninth time in 15 total appearances. The Bulldogs failed to do so in their last trip to the NIT in 2017. A second round opponent is still to be determined with Wake Forest and Appalachian State playing Wednesday night in Winston Salem, N.C. at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

Should the Demon Deacons win, it’d set up a rematch of the regular season meeting between the two. Georgia won 80-77 on the back of 21 points from Noah Thomasson. Jabri Abdur-Rahim, Russel Tchewa, RJ Melendez and Silas Demary also reached double-figures for the Bulldogs.

Georgia-Wake Forest would take place in Winston Salem with the Demon Deacons holding the top seed in UGA’s quadrant. If the Mountaineers are able to pull off an upset however, the Bulldogs would get another home game. A date and time for the second round game, like the opponent, is still to be set for sometime either Saturday or Sunday.