In a thrilling SEC matchup that went down to the wire, the Arkansas Razorbacks rallied from a 15-point second half deficit to edge the Georgia Bulldogs 68-65, securing head coach John Calipari’s first conference win since taking over the program. The dramatic comeback was capped by a clutch putback from freshman guard Adou Thiero as time expired.
Overcoming a Slow Start
Heading into Wednesday’s tilt, Calipari’s Razorbacks were mired in an unprecedented 0-5 start to SEC play, the legendary coach’s worst conference losing streak since his early days at UMass in the late 1980s. Hosting a solid Georgia squad seemed an unlikely place to break the skid, especially after the Bulldogs raced out to a commanding 46-31 lead early in the second half.
We were getting punched in the mouth. I kept telling the guys, just weather the storm, keep chipping away.
– John Calipari, Arkansas head coach
But the young Razorbacks showed resilience, gradually trimming the deficit behind the scoring of Thiero and fellow freshman Karter Knox. An 18-6 Arkansas run over a six-minute stretch finally pulled the Hogs even at 58-58 with under five minutes to play.
Heroics from an Unlikely Source
With the game tied at 65 and only seconds remaining, it was the unheralded Thiero who emerged as the night’s hero. After getting fouled on a rebound attempt, the 6’6″ swingman hit the first of two free throws to put Arkansas up one. His second shot careened off the front rim, but Thiero outfought two Bulldogs for the rebound and banked in the game-winner at the horn.
The improbable bucket gave Thiero 17 points on the night to go with a game-high 11 rebounds. Knox added 13 crucial points for the Razorbacks, 11 of which came from the free throw line. As a team, Arkansas shot a blistering 29-of-34 (85%) from the charity stripe to offset their frigid 31% performance from the field.
Agonizing Loss for Georgia
For Georgia, the collapse was a bitter pill to swallow. The Bulldogs seemed to have the game in hand for much of the night, riding the inside-out duo of Asa Newell (18 points, 8 rebounds) and RJ Godfrey (11 points) to the big early lead. But costly turnovers and an inability to match Arkansas’ energy down the stretch proved their undoing.
This one hurts. No other way to say it. We played well enough to win for 35 minutes, but you’ve got to finish.
– Mike White, Georgia head coach
The heartbreaking defeat drops Georgia to 14-5 overall and a middling 2-4 in SEC play. Things don’t get any easier for the Bulldogs, as a road date with #5 Florida looms on Saturday. Meanwhile, Arkansas will look to start a winning streak when they host Oklahoma this weekend.
A Building Block for Coach Cal?
While one conference win is hardly cause for a parade, the gutsy comeback should provide a spark for an Arkansas team still finding its way under their Hall of Fame coach. Calipari’s teams have historically improved dramatically over the course of a season, and this resilient performance may well be the turning point Hogs fans have been waiting for.
- Calipari’s mastery of in-game adjustments was on full display
- Young stars like Thiero and Knox stepped up when it mattered most
- Defensive intensity and aggression on the glass fueled the second-half surge
If the Razorbacks can bottle that fighting spirit and continue to mature, the preseason hype that surrounded Calipari’s arrival may yet prove justified. But in the ruthless shark tank that is the SEC, every night is a dogfight. For now, Calipari and Co. will savor this hard-earned victory before turning their focus to the next challenge.
