Athens — If the writing wasn't already on the wall for Georgia, it's there now — bright and bold and in oil-based paint — after Wednesday night's meek loss to Florida.

Technically, the Bulldogs (12-14, 3-10 SEC) still have an outside shot at earning an NIT bid. Mathematically, a winning season still is a possibility. But Georgia's actions in losing to Gators 77-64 at Stegeman Coliseum make a mockery of such considerations.

There are still three regular-season games left and at least one in the SEC Tournament, but all indications are the Bulldogs have quit on their season.

"Tonight we looked like a team that had hit some sort of wall," said Georgia coach Dennis Felton, clearly befuddled about what he had witnessed. "We were just sluggish and a step slow to most every and in all parts of the game. ... We were slow to loose balls, to rebounds, to stopping drivers. Offensively we were sluggish and hesistant. It was that sort of night for us all around."

What makes it worse for the Bulldogs is they knew entirely what was on the line. Players said Felton told them before practice Tuesday they needed to win out to play beyond the SEC Tournament.

But if there was any sort of desperation or urgency within the Bulldogs, it was not demonstrated in their play.

Said junior Terrance Woodbury: "We knew we couldn't have any slip-ups or any letdowns in these last four games. We knew where we were at. But nobody would have been able to tell if they had seen our game tonight."

"We did come out playing flat," acknowledged senior co-captain Sundiata Gaines. "We had no effort, and we were real tentative on offense. Florida's not a great defensive team, and that's the most disappointing thing about it. We had a lot of opportunities, and we really didn't take them. We really showed no emotion, no effort."

Gaines led the Bulldogs with 13 points but had a tough night overall. He was 3-of-11 from the field, 1-for-4 on 3-point shots, and had five turnovers. Fellow senior and co-captain Dave Bliss had 10 points and 10 rebounds, and freshman Jeremy Price added 10 points.

The lone bright spot for Georgia was sophomore forward/center Albert Jackson. He responded to his first career start with a career-best 12 points and a career-high 28 minutes.

"Albert played awfully well," Felton said.

Georgia freshman Troy Brewer made a 3-pointer at the 16:35 mark of the second half to cut the Gators' lead to nine points, 50-41. Then the Bulldogs didn't score a point in a span of more than five minutes, heaving up all sorts of unsightly and ill-fated shots.

Florida sort of politely accepted Georgia's generosity. A 3-pointer by freshman Jai Lucas was shortly followed by a three-point play from Marreese Speights, and the Gators led by 18, 62-44, with 10:13 play.

"The key to the game was on those five straight possessions that they missed shots, we didn't allow them to get second looks and were able to get points on the other end," said Florida coach Billy Donovan, whose Gators (21-7, 8-5) likely sewed up an NCAA bid with the victory.

Short-handed as always — Georgia played again with only eight scholarship players — the big deficit was a familiar spot for the Bulldogs. The difference this time was there was no pesky comeback even attempted. Georgia, it seemed, just let it be.

"Just because guys aren't playing to their potential or giving their all doesn't necessarily mean they're quitting," Gaines said. "As a team we just have to understand we have to play hard to have a chance. With the team we have, we have no other alternative. Other teams might be to take a few possessions off, but we can't."