At the Buzzer: Georgia 72, Florida 60 (Instant Breakdown)

AT THE BUZZER
GEORGIA 72, No. 23 FLORIDA 60

WHAT HAPPENED: The host Bulldogs took advantage of their massive size advantage in the front court and unleashed a smothering defensive performance on a Gators team that had no answers in a stone-cold second half in dropping a key Southeastern Conference game at Stegeman Coliseum. Georgia power forward Yante Maten, the league's scoring leader, had 20 points and seven rebounds, but it was the Dogs' incredible defense, both inside and out, that fueled their victory. UGA corked UF, which lost a five-point lead by missing 17 of 18 shots during one stretch -- including 13 straight -- and scored just 12 points over the final 13 minutes and 45 seconds. UF trailed 37-32 at halftime, but went on a 12-2 blitz out of the locker room, hitting six of its first seven shots, to go up by five. The Gators went just 5-for-28 the rest of the game. Granted, it came against the SEC's top field-goal percentage defense, but also against a team that had lost five of its previous six. Senior point guard Chris Chiozza led UF with 15 points. Florida shot just 36.5 percent for the game, including 31.4 after halftime. UGA guard William "Turtle" Jackson III scored 16.

WHAT IT MEANS: A second straight SEC loss, which dumped the Gators in the jumbled pack of three-loss teams that will be in third place in the league standings come Wednesday night. It was just a week ago that Florida was alone atop the SEC, but losses to South Carolina at home, and now this one on the road have put UF in a mini-tailspin. The defeat was Coach Mike White's first in five games against Georgia and just the second loss in the last nine against the Bulldogs, dating to the 2013 season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: When Georgia gets a decent offensive game from one of its perimeter players, the Dogs have a chance. Jackson went 4-for-10 from the floor, hit a couple 3s and made all six of his free throws.

STAGGERING STATISTIC: A run of 1-for-18 over 12 minutes computes to 5.5 percent during that stretch. No chance.

UP NEXT: Florida (15-7, 6-3) is back home Saturday against Alabama (14-7, 5-3), which is tied with Kentucky and Tennessee for third place in the SEC. The game will be the first of two against the much-improved Crimson Tide and their talented freshman class. UF plays at Tuscaloosa on Feb. 27.

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At the Buzzer: Georgia 72, Florida 60 (Instant Breakdown)

Players Mentioned

Chris Chiozza

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