Kenny Gaines dove for the basketball, only to have Colorado’s Xavier Johnson tumble on top of him. The Bulldogs junior guard was slow to get up; the officials called a foul.
Gaines went into the Georgia (5-3) locker room at Stegeman Coliseum, and then to the hospital where his injury was diagnosed as a sprained AC ligament in his right shoulder.
Back on the court, J.J. Frazier had subbed in for Gaines. Frazier was on his way to a perfect afternoon shooting, going 3-for-3 on 3-pointers and 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in an important 64-57 Georgia victory.
“J.J. really can shoot the basketball,” coach Mark Fox said. “That’s what he brings to our team. He’s a hard guy to guard because he’s quick, he plays underneath people. But he’s a terrific shooter and he was great for us off the bench today.”
Fox described his team as “a little disjointed” after it lost Gaines in the second half, but a 12-0 run from the Bulldogs to close out the first half had given them plenty of cushion.
Colorado (5-2) made a late push and cut Georgia’s lead to six points, but with 1:07 left on the clock the Buffaloes did not have enough rope to pull themselves out of the hole that Marcus Thornton’s 16 points and Frazier’s 15 had put them in. Frazier’s performance matched his career-high points total and set a season high for the sophomore guard.
“Once Kenny went out, somebody had to step up to score the basketball,” Frazier said. “My jump shot was feeling good throughout the day.”
Frazier’s jumpers proved critical for Georgia, one coming after a defensive rebound and layup from Colorado and another following a dunk by Johnson.
“Every time I take a good shot it gets good results,” Frazier said. “Once I hit that first one, [Fox] started looking at me. OK, you know it’s time to ramp it up a little bit. … Coach (has) got confidence in me shooting the basketball and to make great decisions, to take shots. And that’s what I try to do.”
After dropping two games in New York City in the NIT Season Tip-Off, Georgia was looking for a statement win heading into a two-week break from competition. Fox and the Bulldogs got just that against a team that was a No. 8 seed in last year’s NCAA Tournament.
“That’s a resume win, there’s no way around it,” Fox said. “To be honest with you, that’s the first time in a long time we’ve had a resume opportunity at home. I think that was a big part of it.”
Although Fox expressed frustration with the scheduling process, calling it nearly impossible and citing final exams, graduation and strength-of-schedule concerns as reasons for Georgia’s two-week hiatus, the time off will give Gaines’ shoulder some much-needed time to heal.
“This break will be good for me,” Gaines said in a text message.
Georgia won’t play again till a home game Dec. 21 against Seton Hall.
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