DEL.ICIO.USGeorgia rallies to hold off Eastern Michigan
For the Journal-Constitution
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
West Lafayette, Ind. — After a dispiriting effort in a discouraging loss, Georgia freshman Dustin Ware didn’t put his head down.
Ware nailed a go-ahead 3-pointer with 49 seconds left as the Bulldogs rallied from an 11-point deficit in the final nine minutes to escape with a 61-60 victory over Eastern Michigan in a consolation game of the NIT Season Tip-Off on Tuesday.
AP
Terrance Woodbury scored 11 points for the Bulldogs in the win over Eastern Michigan.
In Georgia’s 74-53 loss to Loyola of Chicago on Monday, Ware missed all seven shots that he took, a performance that prompted a pep talk from coach Dennis Felton early Tuesday.
“I talked to him this morning before the game,” Felton said. “I reminded him of what kind of player I envisioned him being when I recruited him. One of the best things about is he has incredible composure and poise.”
Ware pulled up and made a shot in front of the Eagles’ L.J. Frazier to put Georgia (2-1) ahead for good at 61-59. The freshman scored 11 points to bounce back from his poor display Monday
“I knew the team needed something, and I just felt that I could do it,” Ware said. “My teammates believed in me, and I was confident to take the shot, and it just went in.”
The game still wasn’t over. Terrance Woodbury completed a miserable second half when he committed his fifth foul on Brandon Bowdry with 38 seconds left. Bowdry, however, made only 1 of 2 free throws.
After Ware missed a one-and-one, Georgia’s Corey Butler made the defensive play of the game when he drew a charging foul on Frazier with six seconds to go.
“He did a great job,” said Felton about Butler. “I’m sure glad the official got it right because it was clearly a charge.”
The call appeared to be a close one, but Eagles coach Charles Ramsey wasn’t complaining.
“Their freshman stepped up and made a big shot at the end,” Ramsey said. “Our freshman [Frazier] tried to make a play.”
Zac Swansey missed a one-and-one opportunity with 5.5 seconds remaining, but Eastern Michigan’s Antonio Green tried to go the length of the court, and time expired before he got a shot off.
Woodbury scored 11 first-half points, but was held scoreless while picking up four fouls after the break. Butler scored 12 to lead Georgia, who shot 35.9 percent (23-of-64) from the field.
The Bulldogs trailed 53-42 with 8:57 to go after Bowdry scored inside to cap a 6-0 spurt, but they responded with nine consecutive points and held Eastern Michigan without a basket for over seven minutes to set up the tight finish.
“Our defense really, really got committed to doing things the way we wanted to do it,” Felton said. “And then offensively, we got more patient and started playing more inside-out, putting the ball inside first.”
The Bulldogs led by many as seven points in a tight first half, settling for a 32-30 lead at the break. Eastern Michigan fought back and used an 11-2 run to start the second half to force Georgia to rally.
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