Since I can’t sleep…

Georgia beat Arkansas 82-69 in Athens on January 19th to move to 2-1 in the SEC, and it dropped Arkansas to 2-2 in the league.  The score of 82 was Georgia’s highest point total in SEC play until the tournament.  The Dawgs led 34-27 at halftime and poured it on in the second half to win with relative ease.  A 16-7 run midway through the second half turned a 7-point Georgia advantage into a 16-point lead.

Key storylines:

• Billy Humphrey’s career-high 24 points.  Humphrey shot 60% from the floor, 4-of-6 from behind the arc, and sunk 8-of-9 free throws to lead Georgia in scoring.  Were his clutch baskets at the end of the MSU game a sign that he’s back?  The Dawgs need his offense badly if they are to have a chance at the title.
• Arkansas shooting 2-of-11 from three-point range.  The Dawgs played solid perimeter defense, and Arkansas never got going from outside.
• Georgia’s good shooting.  The Dawgs shot 51% from the floor and hit 6-of-13 from outside.
• Transition.  Georgia scored 12 fast break points to Arkansas’ 4.  Georgia had 21 points off of 17 Arkansas turnovers.  Georgia pressured the ball, and turnovers were a big part of the second half push.  The Dawgs might try to press again in the championship game, but watch the fouls, guys.
• Limiting the damage.  Charles Thomas led Arkansas with 13 points, and only one other Razorback was in double figures.  Georgia did a solid job against Weems and Beverly, two outstanding scorers.