ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Ricky McPhee scored 14 points, including a 3-pointer that put Georgia ahead to stay with just under 2 1/2 minutes remaining, and the Bulldogs held on for their second Southeastern Conference win, 61-57 over Vanderbilt on Wednesday night.
“We didn’t play like we wanted to in the first half,” Kevin Stallings, VU head coach, said. “We just weren’t where we wanted to be. You have to give credit to Georgia. They played with a purpose, and that was the story tonight.”
Georgia (11-17, 2-11) led by 10 at halftime and stretched the margin as high as 14 in the second half, only to have Vanderbilt (16-11, 5-8) make a game of it down the stretch.
George Drake leaned into the lane to hit a jumper with 4:26 left, giving the Commodores a 54-53 lead and capping a 23-8 spurt that wiped out the Bulldogs’ big advantage. But the comeback seemed to sap Vandy’s energy — the visiting team didn’t make another shot other than free throws, finishing 31.4 percent from the field.
McPhee got wide open from outside the arc and swished a 3 with 2:21 left, putting Georgia ahead for good at 56-54.
