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MBB Box Score/Highlights/Interview: Bulldogs Beat Sooners 72-62
The Georgia Bulldogs (14-2, 2-1 SEC) defeated the No. 17 Oklahoma Sooner (13-3, 0-3 SEC), 72-62, on Saturday night at a sold-out Stegeman Coliseum. Three scorers reached double figures led by freshman forward Asa Newell and graduate guard Dakota Leffew’s 15 points apiece on the night.
Fast Facts
• After Newell and Leffew’s 15-point efforts, sophomore guard Silas Demary Jr. rounded out double-figure scoring with 10 points powered by eight free throws.
• Newell posted his 15th double-figure scoring output in 16 games and led Georgia offensively for the ninth time this season.
• With the win over Oklahoma, Georgia has recorded back-to-back wins over ranked opponents for the first time since the 2006-07 season when the Bulldogs beat Kentucky and LSU.
• Freshman center Somto Cyril was a force in the paint, recording four blocks on the night to mark his fourth game this season with four or more rejections in a game.
• Georgia held Oklahoma to its lowest point total, lowest field goal percentage and lowest three-point percentage of the entire season.
Video Highlights
Mike White’s Postgame Presser
On the team handling success and possibly being ranked…
“We’ve already addressed the fact that we weren’t quite as sharp, and Oklahoma’s really good – like really good. They’re going to continue to win a bunch. They do a fantastic job, and again, they didn’t shoot it great. Our detail was good. Our mental toughness was very good. We were locked in the other day. So again, it was the response for a young team after beating number six. It was pretty good; it needs to be great. Coming into this week, it’s got to be great. If that were to happen, I’d be happy for our fans. I don’t really care. I want to reach our potential and reach our ceiling and continue to get better and prepare well for this next one. If it happens or it doesn’t happen, we’re still going to talk about how we handle today’s success.”
On how big the win is in a conference like the SEC…
“They’re all huge. And I say they’re all, like there’s going to be a bunch, who knows how many we can get and how many some of these other teams win. It’s just great opportunities, but every one of them is just going to be a war. And you have to appreciate the wins that you do get. We appreciate the home court advantage that we had tonight, and we have to work on our force moving forward.”
On Silas Demary Jr.’s command of the offense…
“He was terrific. He was, to me, the best player on the floor tonight. Toughness, stability, maturity, and a lot of stuff that he brings to this team and this program right now, and I hope he can continue to grow in this role does not show up on the box score that we’re looking at. His leadership in huddles, the impactful things he’s saying in timeouts, the way he carries himself, he drew eight fouls, goes to the foul line, converts. High level defender, rebounder, turned the ball over one time. And those are things that are easier to control as opposed to, ‘man, I went one for seven. I’m in the dumps because I should be five for seven’, or what have you. You compliment the way he played, and you make a couple more shots, and we’re all sitting here talking about how elite he was. But he’s got an ability to affect the game in a big way without scoring, but he also can score.”
On Dakota Laffew’s performance…
“He’s such a steady guy. He makes, he’s done it throughout the year. We’ve got a ways to go, but he’s hit timely shots for us. He’s confident, he’s very, very even keel. The moment is the same for him in the first time he gets in there, as it is late in the game, whether we’re up, whether we’re down. He just continues to be really steady. And he’s very versatile as well, on the ball, off the ball. We can do some things with him and make some good decisions tonight.”
On what Justin Abson means to the team…
“He was a huge get for us out of the portal. I mean, we were fired up when he committed to us and we beat some good schools on him, he had really good options. And he’s one of five frontcourt players that we play, and certain nights it’s going to be certain guys opportunities. He’ll continue to grow and develop. He’s got as good a feel and basketball IQ, temperament as anyone on our team. It’s not surprising what he did offensively, and then he was able to block a shot, too, which he did a lot in the Sunbelt these last couple of years. But just a winning player, a character guy, always ready. He and Dylan [James] are a lot alike in that regard. They’re just, they’re good teammates, and when their number’s called, they’re going to do whatever they can to help their teammates.”
On the energy Somto [Cyril] brings in blocking and scoring…
“Huge, he’s such a talent in that regard. Also finishing at the rim and offensive rebounding. He’s got some areas for improvement, like all of our guys. Got off to a little bit of a slow start. I loved his mentality, his response in the second half, and even stepping up at the foul line, making a couple big free throws there late. He’s much better in the second half, which is growth for a true freshman.”
Box Score
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