MBB: Georgia Falls to Texas A&M, 91-77
Despite a career night from sophomore Kario Oquendo, the University of Georgia men’s basketball team fell to Texas A&M, 91-77, Tuesday evening before 5,587 spectators at Reed Arena.
Oquendo led Georgia (6-22, 1-14 SEC) with a career-high 33 points on 12-for-22 shooting, including 6-for-13 from 3-point range, along with seven rebounds. Senior Braelen Bridges was the only other Bulldog in double-figures with 10 points, while sophomore Jabri Abdur-Rahim hit three 3-pointers and graduate Aaron Cook tallied seven assists. For the evening, the Bulldogs shot a season-high 60 percent from the field, as well as a season-high 59.1 percent from beyond the arc.
“We shot the ball extremely well,” said Georgia head coach Tom Crean following the game. “The turnovers…we didn’t get to the foul line enough, and they got some straight line drives on us. We just didn’t have a complete game.”
Oquendo immediately made his presence felt as he scored Georgia’s first eight points, capped off by a 3-pointer just before the first media timeout. Following the early burst, Texas A&M (17-11, 6-9 SEC) responded with eight consecutive points coming out of the break, but the Bulldogs were able to answer with an 11-0 run. The rally started with a Cook jumper, followed by three straight from deep in just over a minute, giving the Bulldogs a seven-point lead.
Again, the Aggies responded with a 14-0 run, exacerbated by a four-minute scoring drought for Georgia as the sharpshooting temporarily went cold. Junior Jaxon Etter finally broke the run with a 3-pointer to bring the margin to four with seven minutes left in the half, but Texas A&M was able to counter Georgia’s scores and keep the lead around 10 for the remainder of the period. As he did in the opening minutes, Oquendo powered the Bulldogs offense, scoring seven of their final nine points on his way to 18 in the first half. Nonetheless, the Aggies led, 48-37, heading into the half.
The scoring slowed for both teams in the second half with Cook making it an eight-point game at the 15-minute mark with a three. Texas A&M found success in the paint, while Georgia battled with outside shooting, including back-to-back threes from senior Noah Baumann and Oquendo to bring the score to 62-55 halfway through the second half. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, an Aggie 3-pointer and quick layup off a turnover returned the deficit to double-digits.
Texas A&M used more Georgia turnovers to build a game-high 15-point lead with under seven minutes remaining. Abdur-Rahim and Oquendo then combined to hit three 3-pointers in a row, but the Aggies responded with a bucket each time. In the closing minutes, Abdur-Rahim added another trey as Texas A&M closed out the 14-point victory.
Georgia returns home for its final two games of the regular season at Stegeman Coliseum. The homestand begins with a matchup against Florida on Saturday, Feb. 26 at noon on ESPN2. Earlier in the season, the Gators topped the Bulldogs, 72-63, on Feb. 9.
SOFTBALL: 15/18 Georgia (9-2) vs. Gardner Webb (5-4) Today
Dates: Feb. 23, 2022
First Pitch: 5 p.m., EST
Location: Athens, Ga.
Stadium: Jack Turner Softball Stadium
Promotions: Kids run the bases (info below)
Media Information
Streaming: SEC Network+
Play-by-play: Jack Sadighian
The 15th-ranked Georgia softball team is set for its first midweek contest of the 2022 season this Wednesday. The Bulldogs host Gardner-Webb at Jack Turner Stadium at 5 p.m.
Follow the Bulldogs
» Wednesday’s game will stream live on SEC Network+. Jack Sadighian will call play-by-play.
» Live stat links can be found on the softball schedule at GeorgiaDogs.com.
» Live Twitter updates will be available on the official Twitter page of Georgia softball, @UGAsoftball.
This Weekend’s Promotions
» Admission to every home regular season Georgia softball game is FREE. No tickets are required. Seating is first come, first served.
» Wednesday, Feb. 23
– Kids Run the Bases – Children 12 and under can run the bases post-game
Series History Gardner-Webb
» Georgia leads the series 4-0.
» All four meetings have come in Athens.
» Georgia and Gardner-Webb met every season from 2012-14 and most recently met in 2018.
» Georgia has run-ruled the Runnin’ Bulldogs three of the four meetings.
A Look at What’s Ahead
Bryant, Georgia Southern, and North Carolina come to the Classic City for the 19th Annual Georgia Classic this weekend. The 10-game tournament begins Friday. Georgia opens play against Bryant and North Carolina Friday at 3:30 and 6 p.m.
Let’s Recap
Georgia opened its home schedule hosting the Red & Black Showcase at Jack Turner Stadium last weekend. The Bulldogs picked up wins over Delaware and Boston as well as a pair of run-rule victories over Purdue. Georgia scored 40 runs, allowing just two runs in the final three games of the tournament. The offense added 10 home runs, three triples, and nine doubles to its season totals, slugging .774 as a team and hitting over .400.
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