ATHENS -- It probably will take time to find out if Georgia can be a more rugged rebounding team.
At least the Bulldogs have shown they have enough offensive talent and defensive tenacity to win for now, surviving another tough outing on the boards and beating Bowling Green 63-54 on Sunday night at Stegeman Coliseum.
Bowling Green didn't overwhelm the Bulldogs with size but rather showed more grit when the ball was up for grabs.
“We've just got to be tougher,” Georgia junior forward John Florveus said. “When we get our hands on the ball, be strong with the ball and get the rebound. It's all mental.”
Georgia (2-0) had little trouble forcing tough shots. Bowling Green shot just 37 percent from the field, including 9 of 30 in the first half.
But the Bulldogs struggled to collect the misses. The Falcons (1-1) used a 43-28 edge in rebounds to keep the game close until Georgia closed with a 10-4 run.
Georgia's top rebounders from last season, Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie, declared for the NBA draft. The Bulldogs' fortunes figure to rely largely on finding a way to rebound without them.
“It's been a major concern since last year,” Georgia coach Mark Fox said. “We don't have a proven rebounder. We have to work at that, and we will.”
Bowling Green finished 14-19 last season and expectations aren't high. But the Falcons have junior A'uston Calhoun (11 rebounds) and senior Scott Thomas (eight rebounds) in the front court.
Bowling Green had trouble keeping senior guards Gerald Robinson Jr. and Dustin Ware out of the paint. The Bulldogs pair frequently scored, got to the foul line or found Marcus Thornton and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for easy baskets.
“They are both winners,” Fox said of Robinson and Ware. “They have been very patient with the young guys around them. We are relying on them to do so much, they are probably not going to do it all great.”
Robinson scored nine of his game-high 15 points on free throws and added six assists. Ware scored nine points and touted freshman Caldwell-Pope had 11 points and six rebounds.
Georgia showed flashes of its offensive talent and potential when the game flowed freely. Its 11-1 run in the first half included Thornton’s driving basket, a dunk by Florveus on a pass from Thornton and Ware's 3-pointer.
The Bulldogs aren't as effective when forced to grind.In their season-opening victory against Wofford, the Bulldogs had a 24-14 rebound deficit in the first half before finishing with a 40-38 advantage.
Georgia never got even on the boards this time. Bowling Green scored 16 second-chance points on 19 offensive rebounds.
“We have that fight in us, but we have just got to be a man and go rebound,” Caldwell-Pope said.
The Falcons trailed 53-43 with less than five minutes left but trimmed the lead to 53-48 on Dee Brown's basket and free throw with 2:49 to go.
Ware was fouled as he corralled a steal and made one of two free throws to push the lead to 54-48. Bowling Green's Luke Kraus missed an open 3-pointer, Caldwell-Pope chased down the long rebound and Robinson converted two free throws.
Georgia made six of nine free-throw attempts in the final minute to hold off the Falcons.
“We had some immature plays but we've got an immature team,” Fox said. “We've got to try to continue to grow up, and grow up fast.”
Georgia forward Connor Nolte (Milton High School) remained out with a leg injury. Fox said he's hopeful Nolte will return to the lineup next week.
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