ATHENS. Ga. - The Georgia Bulldogs were trailing Tennessee by four points a full seven minutes into Wednesday night's second half when UGA point guard J.J. Frazier took a pass in the backcourt from teammate Mike Edwards, spun out of a UT double-team and raced toward the basket.
Just outside the top of the key and clearly behind the 3-point line, the lefty launched.
Swish. Bedlam from a roaring red-and-black crowd of 8,029 inside Stegeman Coliseum. Big trouble for the Big Orange.
Or as Frazier backcourt mate Kenny Gaines said later, even though the Dawgs still trailed by a point: "I knew we were locked in at that moment."
Frazier and Gaines were so locked in at that moment that they were in the early stages of scoring 25 straight points for the Bulldogs. Behind by nine with 16:55 to play, Georgia was ahead by seven by the time one of their teammates scored nearly 10 minutes later.
Energized by their starting backcourt's dominance, the Bulldogs eventually won 81-72 to improve to 9-5 overall and 2-2 within the Southeastern Conferece. The Vols fell to 8-8 and 1-3.
"Some nights they fall, and some nights they don't," said Gaines, whose 23 points nicely complemented Frazier's 28, which included hitting 4 of 5 attempts beyond the 3-point line and all four of his free throws while somehow securing eight rebounds, handing out four assists and making off with three steals, despite standing but 5-10 and weighing but 155.
"J.J. just has a special touch. Sometimes even his bad shots become good shots."
The Vols appeared to have a very good shot at claiming their first road victory of the year when they went ahead 43-34 on two Armani Moore free throws with 16:55 to go. UT had forced 18 turnovers to that point, had picked Georgia's pocket nine times and had hit 13 of its first 14 free throws.
But as UT coach Rick Barnes warned his squad, "You're playing against a team that went to the NCAA tournament a year ago, and they're experienced. We have to go to another level."
But that may be impossible for the Vols to do at this time. This team is pretty much reaching its ceiling most nights, especially with effort.
UT's problem isn't hustle. It's height, or lack thereof.
Fighting as hard as the Vols have been fighting just to be competitive takes its toll. After hitting 33 percent of their 3-pointers in the opening half, they could bag but 18 percent (2-of-11) in the second. Down by but three on the glass at intermission (18-15), they were crushed in the second, eventually being outrebounded by 15 (43-28).
Added Barnes: "I told them what I thought (Georgia coach) Mark Fox was telling his team, about doing everything harder, about taking better control of the basketball."
This is what everyone expected of the Bulldogs every night at season's dawn. After all, Georgia was picked by the media to finish fifth in the preseason poll; UT was picked 12th among 14 teams. Given the gritty way the Dawgs had fallen to eventual Final Four participant Michigan State in the opening round of last year's NCAA tournament with Gaines severely hobbled with a foot injury, most believe the Bulldogs a lock to return for March Madness this time around.
But then the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga stunned them in overtime inside Stegeman on the first night of the season, non-conference losses to Seton Hall and Kansas State followed before they dropped conference road games to Florida and Ole Miss, and Georgia entered Wednesday night with an RPI ranking of 70, eighth among SEC schools.
"The Ole Miss loss was really tough on us," said Gaines of that 72-71 defeat, which the Rebels won on a layup by Stefan Moody with three seconds to go. "It definitely carried over to the start of the game tonight. (At halftime) we just wanted to show our character, that we're a tough-nosed team."
They did. They took UT's best shot, then fired back haymaker after haymaker in the final half. If Frazier and Gaines can play this way more nights than not, it's certainly feasible to see Georgia return to the NCAA tournament.
If nothing else, Wednesday night delivered a wonderful birthday present for Fox, who celebrated his 47th birthday earlier in the day.
"I actually had cake for breakfast," he said. "My daughter made me a cake and I ate some of it then. I'll finish the rest of it when I get home."
Maybe the Bulldogs can bring home another NCAA bid, and maybe they can't. But SEC Network analyst and former Auburn star Daymeon Fishback likes the Bulldogs' chances when Frazier and Gaines are both hot on the same night.
"It's a long season," he said. "But they're a formidable backcourt no matter who they're facing in the SEC."
He'd certainly get no argument from the Vols after Wednesday night.
Contact Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com.