Jackson, UGA nip Virginia Tech

Athens — Sometimes it pays to speak up.

Albert Jackson, Georgia’s most outspoken critic after an embarrassing loss at Illinois this past Saturday, spoke out again Tuesday night by making the game’s two most critical plays for the Bulldogs on the way to a 67-66 win over Virginia Tech.

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Georgia’s Dustin Ware (3) drives to the basket against Virginia Tech’s Malcolm Delandy. Ware finished with 4 points and one rebound.

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A tightly-guarded Jackson went up strong for a lay-in as the shot-clock ticked down to give the Bulldogs a one-point lead with 28 seconds to play. Then it was Jackson’s rebound with a half-second remaining off a pair of Virginia Tech misses that assured Georgia (6-3) victory.

“It’s kind of ironic, actually,” Jackson said of ending up with the ball in his hands at the end of the game’s final two plays. “I was the one talking the most junk [after the Illinois loss] and the ball did come my way. So I had to make my plays. Luckily I did.”

Jackson, who went up high to come down with the rebound off the left side of the Hokies’ rim, appeared to be intentionally fouled by Jeff Allen, who grabbed him around the hips and threw him to the floor. Jackson slapped the court hard several times as he lay there with Allen on top of him. But he said it wasn’t in anger.

“I was laughing,” said Jackson, who finished with seven points and five rebounds. “I was smacking the floor because I was excited, I was happy. I wasn’t thinking scuffle at all.

Officials called it a regular foul and Jackson went to the line for a one-and-one. He missed but there wasn’t enough time left for the Hokies to get off a final shot. Corey Butler intercepted their full-court heave.

“I’m really, really proud of the way we bounced back from our game against Illinois in Chicago,” Georgia coach Dennis Felton said. “And I’m really proud of the way our guys showed some toughness because it was a war and we were at a deficit the majority of the game. I was proud of how they made the plays offensively and defensively down the stretch.”

Butler and Chris Barnes were the Bulldogs’ unlikely leading scorers with 11 points apiece.

In his first career start, freshman power forward Trey Thompkins struggled early but scored seven of his nine points in the second half and added seven rebounds. He made two 3-pointers as Georgia surged from behind late in the game and his rebound off the second of two missed free throws by Zac Swansey helped the Dogs forge a 63-62 lead with 3:25 to play.

Georgia could have made it easier on itself by making free throws. The Dogs missed 11 of their 21 attempts from the foul line. And after concentrating the last three days on offensive execution, the Bulldogs managed only 40 percent shooting and failed to get off a shot on two of their last four possessions.

It was the third buzzer-beating loss the Hokies (5-4) have suffered this season. They fell to Xavier 63-62 in overtime and to Wisconsin 74-72 the game’s last shot.

“This was the fourth really close loss we’ve had,” Tech coach Seth Greenberg said. “We are so close to finishing these games. You can look at one play and it can make a big difference in game like this.”

Virginia Tech’s A.D. Vassallo led all players with 23 points. But, guarded by Butler, he didn’t score for the final 9:52. Malcom Delany added 11 but none after halftime.