National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Georgia 74, South Carolina 69
When: 9:00 PM ET, Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Where: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, South Carolina
Officials: # Todd Austin, # Pat Adams, # John Gaffney
Attendance: 12404

Silas Demary Jr. collected 15 points and seven rebounds to fuel visiting Georgia to a 74-69 victory over South Carolina in a battle between Southeastern Conference rivals on Tuesday in Columbia, S.C.

RJ Melendez scored 12 points off the bench and Jabri Abdur-Rahim added 11 for the Bulldogs (13-4, 3-1 SEC), who have won 11 of their last 12 games.

Neither team shot particularly well from the floor, however Georgia enjoyed the advantage at the free-throw line. The Bulldogs converted 78.1 percent of their shots from charity stripe (25 of 32) -- with Demary making 9 of 12 attempts -- while the Gamecocks made just 53.1 percent (17 of 32).

Meechie Johnson scored 19 points and B.J. Mack added 16 for South Carolina (14-3, 2-2), which sustained its first loss at home this season.

Gamecocks guard Myles Stute sustained a left shoulder injury while battling for position after a foul shot during the second half. He did not return to the game.

South Carolina scored 14 of the first 20 points of the second half to seize a 48-39 lead. Collin Murray-Boyles scored the first five points of the half and Stute added a 3-pointer to highlight the surge.

Georgia countered with a 19-3 run to take a 58-51 lead. Justin Hill scored six straight points to ignite that sequence and Abdur-Rahim drained a 3-pointer to cap it for the Bulldogs.

Murray-Boyles made two free throws and Johnson added a 3-pointer to bring the Gamecocks within two at 58-56 with 4:57 remaining in the second half. Georgia responded by making eight free throws before Frank Anselem-Ibe's jumper to push its lead to 68-62 with 1:40 left.

The teams traded baskets before Johnson sank a 3-pointer to pull South Carolina within three at 70-67 with 33 seconds left. Melendez made two free throws and Johnson misfired on his 3-point attempt to effectively seal the result.

Johnson drained a 3-pointer to stake South Carolina to a 27-21 lead before Georgia responded with a 10-0 run. Demary made two free throws and Melendez sank two 3-pointers and a jumper during that sequence.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Georgia   South Carolina
Silas Demary Jr 15 Scoring Meechie Johnson 19
Justin Hill 5 Assists Ta'Lon Cooper 3
Jabri Abdur-Rahim 8 Rebounds Ta'Lon Cooper 6
Silas Demary Jr 9 Free Throws Made B.J. Mack 5
Blue Cain 2 Steals Ta'Lon Cooper 1
Frank Anselem-Ibe 2 Blocks Collin Murray-Boyles 4
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Georgia 74 37.7 3-13 25-32 8 33 7 5 8
South Carolina 69 39.7 6-26 17-32 12 30 8 2 9